In this 2 minute video interview Dr Martha Burns, Speech Pathologist and Neuroscientist, discusses:
– Why a parent may or may not decide to medicate their child,
– How long medication is effective for, and
– How attention can be increased with behavioural interventions (without medication).
The effectiveness of medication (longitudinal study)
A 2009 study by Molina and colleagues (mentioned by Dr Burns in this interview) evaluated the long term use of medication in children and concluded that while medication was beneficial for the first year of use, non-medication (behavioural) interventions would need to be included to benefit the child in the long term.
The effect of medication on the brain
How Fast ForWord behavioural intervention helps children with ADD/ADHD
The Fast ForWord cognitive training program was developed by neuroscientists to develop the cognitive skills of memory, attention, processing and sequencing. Fast ForWord exercises have been specifically designed to increase production of the neurotransmitters we need to pay attention and learn efficiently (read more here).
Dr Stevens and colleagues at the University of Oregon measured changes in the electrical activity in the brains of children with and without language impairments and found that children who participated in Fast ForWord training scored significantly better on these electrophysiological measures of attention than children who did not participate (read more here).
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Would you like more information?
The health and education professionals at Sonic Learning would be happy to help – call 1300 135 334 or contact us via our website for a free telephone consultation.
