“They took my money,” Sabti said, “and my son was the same.” ‘We want science to drive treatment’ “The whole thing is a hoax,” said Atheer Sabti, who took out a $12,500 loan in 2017 to pay for a six-month Brain Balance program in Plano, Texas, to help his then 12-year-old son, who was getting into trouble and struggling to focus in school. “These organizations are not necessarily predatory, but they are definitely there and almost chasing the parents who are desperate, who are overwhelmed and who feel that they have no recourse.”Īs the number of children diagnosed with ADHD and autism surges in the U.S., according to federal data, and as parents become exasperated with treatments that don’t work or involve medications that carry the risk of side effects, neurotechnology industry analysts predict the demand for programs like these will only grow. “They’re selling hope,” said Eric Rossen, the director of professional development and standards for the National Association of School Psychologists. Families have gone into debt or turned to crowdfunding sites to pay for them. These personalized programs can cost $12,000 or more for six months of training, three days a week. Elaine Cromie / for NBC Newsīut the premise behind the programs has faced significant criticism from doctors and scientists who warn that some are making dubious claims. Isak's parents credit the Brain Balance program with reducing the violent tantrums that used to torment him and his family. Brick-and-mortar training centers like Brain Balance Achievement Centers, which Izak attends, and LearningRx, Kyle’s program, are just one piece of a $2 billion global brain technology market that is increasingly going around the medical industry and marketing directly to consumers. The programs are part of a fast-growing industry that’s based on the premise that targeted games and exercises can rewire the brain to boost memory, sharpen thinking or decrease the challenges associated with anxiety, autism, ADHD and other disorders.
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