The Impact of Coherence Neurofeedback on Reading Delays in Learning Disabled Children: A Randomized Controlled Study

Authors

  • Robert Coben Integrated Neuroscience Services, Fayetteville, AR
  • Emma Kate Wright
  • Scott L Decker
  • Tina Morgan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15540/nr.2.4.168

Keywords:

Neurofeedback, Coherence, Reading, Dyslexia, Learning Disability

Abstract

Introduction: Learning disabilities are a complex problem facing our society and educational system. Dyslexia, or reading disability, is one of the most common learning disabilities, impacting children and adults adversely in a myriad of ways. Traditional programs designed to teach reading enhancement are largely ineffective or require intensive therapy over long periods of time. Method: Forty-two school-aged participants were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received qEEG-guided, individuallytailored, two-channel coherence neurofeedback over the left hemisphere. This included two sessions per week for a total of 20 sessions. The control group received typical resource room instruction. All participants received pre- and post-educational measures focused on reading abilities. Results: Following the intervention period, the experimental group enhanced their reading scores, while the control group did not. Coherence neurofeedback led to an average enhancement of 1.2 grade levels in reading scores, but resource room instruction led to no such improvement at all. Conclusion: Coherence-based neurofeedback would appear to show promise and led to significant gains in reading that outpace those of traditional reading programs and most types of neurofeedback studied in the past. Future clinical and research work in this understudied area is recommended.

Author Biography

Robert Coben, Integrated Neuroscience Services, Fayetteville, AR

Robert Coben, Ph.D. received his doctoral degree in 1991 and has been a licensed psychologist in the state of New York since 1994. He is the Director and Chief Neuropsychologist of NeuroRehabilitation and Neuropsychological Services. His post-doctoral training in clinical and rehabilitation neuropsychology was done at the UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in California. His experience in rehabilitation neuropsychology includes directing two separate inpatient neurorehabilitation programs. He is former director of inpatient and outpatient brain rehabilitation at Staten Island University Hospital. He is an affiliate of Winthrop University Hospital and an affiliated researcher of NYU Medical Center.

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Published

2015-12-08

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Research Papers