Photobiomodulation (Low Level Laser) Therapy for ADHD

A new therapy has been proposed for the treatment of ADHD that involves the shining of lasers on the head as a means of improving underlying brain functioning. The treatment is being offered mainly by chiropractors advertising themselves as working in the field of functional neurology or functional medicine. There is little evidence for the effectiveness of this therapy other than case reports or one poorly done clinical study of a small sample of adults with ASD and the effects on their ADHD symptoms. None of those studies involved rigorous scientific controls, such as sham treatment as a placebo comparison group. I conclude that there is no compelling evidence for the effectiveness of this therapy for ADHD at this time, and that it is principally comprised of pseudoscience and salesmanship. Buyer beware.


Websites referred to in the video:

Video of Dr. Madsen explaining the therapy:
   • How Low Level Laser Light Therapy Imp...  

Website for Dr. Madsen’s chiropractic clinic explaining his credentials:
https://www.iowainfinity.com/about

Website for Wikipedia entry on What is Functional Medicine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Functio...

One of the few journal articles reporting the results of this therapy for ADHD:
https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperin...