Focus For Success with ADHD

Last Updated on Monday, 12 September 2011 19:30

ADHD is the most common psychiatric disorder in childhood (NIMH, 2000). Some students can be helped with medications used to treat ADHD. However, medications won't cure the disorder, only temporarily control the symptoms.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke state that "most experts agree that treatment for ADHD should address multiple aspects of the individual's functioning and should not be limited to the use of medications alone."

For lasting improvement, the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) suggests that medication be combined with:

  • behavioral therapy,
  • emotional counseling,
  • practical (educational) support.

The Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR), which contains prescription information from the pharmaceutical manufacturers' themselves, states that "medication for ADHD is only part of a total treatment program that includes

  • psychological,
  • educational, and
  • social measures."

To complicate the matter of treatment for ADHD is the fact that ADHD is misdiagnosed 75-80% of the time (EHSC of WA, 2004). There are over 65 “ADHD imitators” that are associated with attention difficulties. Children are more likely to be depressed, anxious, or gifted than to have ADHD.

All of this points to a great need for an accurate assessment of attention had hyperactive behaviors AND for treatment that includes education and training. That's why we developed our Focus for Success program. And that is why it has two components--a psychological component and an educational component.The psychological component or our program identifies the root causes of attention difficulties for the student. Interventions are determined accordingly.

The educational component of our program includes a system inspired by NASA technology to train astronauts to concentrate. A high-tech helmet reads brain signals for focus and concentration. These brain signals control computer games that not only teach students to improve focus, but also to ignore distractions, develop memory skills, finish tasks, and become organized.

< Prev

Focus for Success

Program FAQs

It sounds too good to be true. Is it?

Often when things sound too good to be true--they're too good to be true. However, there are some things that are so basic, so fundamental, so important that they really can help in a lot of different situations. For example, improving your communication skills will help your relationship with
  • your boss
  • your spouse
  • your children
  • and even strangers.

Communication is such a basic skill it can be helpful when applied to many different situations.  It can help everyone with everything -- so to speak.

The same is true with attention and focus. It is such a basic, fundamental, and important skill that improving it will help in many situations.

  • Students can improve performance by increased ability to pay attention.
  • Spouses can improve relationships by better listening to each other.
  • Musicians can improve performance by being totally into the music.
  • Athletes can improve performance by getting "in the zone".
  • Executives can focus and improve functioning and "multitasking".

You say this can help students, athletes, musicians, and executives. How can something help everyone with everything?

Some things are basic, like water. Water cleans you, nourishes your body and brain, and helps all animals and plants grow. Water is basic and fundamental to life as we know it. Focus and attention are also basic and fundamental skills -- learning to focus/pay attention will improve many aspects of your life. Notice we said in each area people will improve their performance. Focus and attention will help you do the best you are able with the skills you have. It will also help you improve your skills because of increased ability to focus on practicing those skills. However, it is not a miracle--to get better skills, you have to practice those skills. And our program will help you focus so that you can do that

Who invented your program?

We developed the program, but not all the tools. The program consists of many activities and we use many tools to help improve focus and attention.

One amazing tool is neurofeedback -- a computerized learning system that uses a high-tech helmet to read brain signals indicative of focus or concentration. These brain signals control computer activities.

One of our feedback systems was inspired by NASA. NASA was using feedback based technology to improve astronaut performance on flight simulator training. This system enhanced NASA's technology for use with students.

How much does the Focus for Success program cost?

The program costs "more than piano lessons, but less than braces". Like piano lessons and braces, Focus for Successcan give life-long benefits. And like piano lessons and braces, it also requires an investment of time and money.

Typically a student will have two 30-45 minutes sessions each week. You may see results in as few as 10 sessions, but for permanent change we recommend 40 - 50 hours.

Individual sessions are $56. The average number of individual sessions is between 11-18. After that, students have group sessions which are $27.

The program is customized for each individual, so prices range, but we can offer financing options.

End FAQ

Login Form