Medication is often the first line of treatment for children with attention deficit disorder. But now there's a new answer for ADD patients that does not involve drugs.

Alex Goode had attention deficit disorder. Outside of school, he was tired all of the time. In school, he could not concentrate.

"I knew that I had a problem and I knew that I wanted to fix it," Goode said. "I just couldn't get my thoughts out because I was always staring off into space."

Then Alex met Dr. Jeffrey Fannin, a neurotherapist at the Center for Cognitive Enhancement in Glendale, Ariz. Fannin worked with Alex to change his behavior.

"What we're trying to do with Alex is speed up the front part of his brain. Typically, with attention deficit disorder, we have too much slow-wave activity in the front of the brain," Fannin said.

Fannin performed brain mapping on Alex using EEG imaging. Brain mapping illustrates deficiencies in different areas of Alex's brain. With the help of a listening tool and graphics, Alex can see and hear his brainwaves and can learn how to increase his own brain activity.

Several sessions later, Alex is able to concentrate again.

"The brain will then learn, 'Oh, yes, when I'm reading or doing homework, I'm supposed to speed up,' because he's getting the auditory response," Fannin said.

Over time, Alex won't need the high-pitched sounds to tell him he is on the right track.

He has already noticed a difference.

"From getting ready for school in the morning to doing my homework, I can't name a thing that this training hasn't helped me in," Alex said.

Alex goes for the treatment twice a week. However, 85 percent of Fannin's patients are able to do the treatment at home.

For more information, visit www.enhanceyourbrain.com or call the Center for Cognitive Enhancement at (602) 548-9092.

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