Daniel Goleman, noted author of ‘Focus: The Hidden Ingredient in Excellence’ and ‘Emotional Intelligence’, in his New York Times article: ‘Mental Muscle vs ADHD’, suggests that strengthening mental focus, or cognitive control, and mindfulness, may help children suffering with ADHD, and adults with A.D.D.
Research has shown that cognitive control – impulse management, paying attention or learning readiness, self- regulation – to be a predictor of success, both in school and work life.
Meditation is a cognitive control exercise that enhances ‘ the ability to self-regulate your internal distractions’ says Dr Adam Gazzelay, neuroscientist at the University of California, San Francisco. Also, ‘mindfulness seems to flex the brain circuitry for sustaining attention, an indicator of cognitive control’ according to research by Wendy Hasencamp and Lawrence Barselou, Emory University.
Alternative, drug-free therapies, such as Neurofeedback or EEG Biofeedback, by enabling self-regulation of the central nervous system, can , like mindfulness training, also help children with ADHD, and adults with ADD improve focus and gain cognitive control.
‘The studies come and go, amid growing disenchantment with the first line treatment for these conditions: drugs.’
A large study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry reported that ‘while most young people with ADHD benefit from medications in the first year, these effects generally wane by the third year, if not sooner.’ An author of the study, James M. Swanson, Univ. of California, Irvine, says: ‘there are no long-term lasting benefits from taking ADHD medications…but mindfulness seems to get at the causes.’
— Daniel Goleman, author, New York Times article, May 13,2014.