Effective Studies ADHD & My Focus Glasses
The effectiveness of the MyFocus, Inc. glasses was tested with seven children ranging from age 7 years to age 14 years old who have a prior diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD] from a professional qualified to give the diagnosis. The prior diagnosis was assessed for accuracy. There was one child with ADHD and Autism who participated. There were gains in many key areas of behavior and brainwave patterns associated with attention, learning, and faster mental processing speeds. We used EEG data collection which measures electrical activity on the surface of the brain, questionnaires, interviews, and observation. We used clinical EEG software to measure and filter the brain wave patterns. We relied entirely on this software to filter out erroneous EEG data resulting from things like mouth movement, hand movement, etc.
A greater than average amount, compared to the average of the general population, of faster frequencies in what are called the Beta range in EEG are present in children who score better on standardized tests, and who perform better in school (Liu et. al. 2008). We saw an averages increase in this range as much as 40%. All children had increases in this frequency band, which was not the case with the other frequency bands while wearing the glasses. This EEG outcome shows that the glasses are helpful for mental concentration and the EEG frequencies associated with greater firing frequency on the surface of the brain. There was an average reduction of foot fidgeting of 70%, and a decrease in the number of times the children looked away from their books by 44% according to self-reports. The increase, as much as 40%, in this key frequency associated with school and test performance correlated with the childrens average report of distractions and distractibility being reduced by 36% with the glasses on during reading.
The brain of a child with ADHD typically has a negative charge in the outer layers and a positive charge in the middle of the brain. In the illustration below a neuro-typical brain is on the left and a brain of someone with ADHD is on the right. It that shows the outer brain slowing typical in ADHD:
The illustration below is from a separate study by Zemetkin et. al. in 1990.
This outer slowing is associated with slower firing patterns on the surface of the brain, especially in the frontal part of the brain that is largely responsible for filtering distractions, impulse control, and engagement in key cognitive functions called executive functions that allow people to be attentive to tasks. Again, when the children wore the glasses it increased a key firing pattern for mental performance and concentration (low Beta-13.5-20.5Hz) on the surface of the brain, and it changed the effect you see in the picture above since EEG measures the electrical activity on the surface of the brain. (Liu et. al. 2008)
We had each child read with the glasses on and off in a randomized way so that the order was not the same for all children. The author asked them to stay focused on reading. The author linked a clinical EEG system to their scalp and measured electrical activity from the outer layer and surface of the brain. It was done following standardized research methods that illustrate brainwave patterns indicative and specific only to ADHD 94% of the time (Snyder, et al, 2008).
The author also monitored behavior and gathered interview answers and information from the children. All children in the study had an increase in the faster frequency associated with mental concentration and higher test performance. Increasing the amount of this frequency is the goal of proven therapies such as stimulant medications and EEG biofeedback therapy. (Loo and Barkley, 2005)
Daydreaming and poking ones neighbor, for instance, are ways that people with this condition make the environment stimulating enough to keep engaged. Disruptive or unproductive behavior keeps them engaged by getting the outer layer of the brain stimulated by what is happening around them. That is why children with this condition do these things more. Adults, as well as children, may make their environments stimulating in other ways by creating distractions of other kinds.
The average severity of the ADHD diagnosis in the children in the study according to questionnaire answers was 5.14 on a 10 point scale with ten being the most severe. Standard research procedures were followed including informed consent and a gift to the clients including a $25 gift card. The children were also offered a pair of the glasses after completing the test.
