Background An 11-year-old boy was experiencing extreme emotional dysregulation that led to severe meltdowns in his classroom. His usual emotional highs and lows had been significantly exacerbated by the tragic loss of one of his closest friends to cancer earlier that year. As a result, he struggled to process his grief and manage his emotions effectively. His distress became so intense that at one point, his school had to clear the entire classroom because he was unable to be physically guided outside by teachers. Following this meltdown, he had to transition to home schooling, which later continued into the COVID-19 pandemic when schools shifted to remote learning. However, his emotional struggles persisted, causing considerable strain on the family.
Son’s Journey Seeking a solution, his parents decided to rent a neurofeedback system for four weeks. Over the course of this rental period, they conducted between 10 to 20 sessions. Neurofeedback provided him with a structured way to regulate his emotions, allowing him to process his grief and develop greater emotional stability.
By the time the four-week rental was complete, his parents observed a significant improvement in his ability to manage his emotions. His meltdowns reduced in both frequency and intensity, and he was better equipped to cope with daily challenges. When schools reopened, he was able to reintegrate into classroom learning without issue, returning to a typical school environment without the previous disruptions.
Whole Household Impact The success of the neurofeedback intervention brought immense relief to his mother. Before trying neurofeedback, she believed that homeschooling would be her only option, which would have been highly disruptive to the family’s schedule. The boy’s emotional regulation not only improved his ability to return to school but also restored balance to the household. His improved well-being positively impacted family dynamics, reducing stress and uncertainty about his future education.
Conclusion This case highlights the effectiveness of neurofeedback in supporting emotional regulation, particularly for children experiencing intense grief and emotional struggles. By addressing the root causes of dysregulation, neurofeedback helped this 11-year-old boy transition back into a structured learning environment successfully. His family credits the system with providing the necessary stability to allow him to process his emotions and reintegrate into school life, demonstrating its potential as a powerful tool for emotional and behavioural support.