This may look like your average game of Pac-man, but it's not.
It's actually being controlled by the brain, using a therapy called Neurofeedback. Its a non invasive way to treat ADHD and learning disabilities, and it's helped young people like Charlie Fischer overcome challenges.
"I was told up front by the teacher that I was stupid, that my work was stupid," Says Fischer.
That was in second grade, and he spent most of his life believing it. Until 4 years ago, when he met Richard Ellis, owner of Abilene ADHD. Ellis has one of only a handful of clinics in the state of Texas using the fairly new therapy.
Within a month, Fischer noticed a change.
"I was starting to pay attention more, I could actually pay attention for longer periods of time," Fischer Says.
Neurofeedback works from the inside out, by training the brain to process more efficiently, by reinforcing essential skills for success at school or work.
"The games are set up so that when the clients get their brains working effectively, the computer game works, when their brains are not working effectively, it'll stop. And so he's able to change the state of his brain and those brain waves to make the game play," Ellis Explains
70 to 80 percent of kids see a positive, sometimes permanent change.
"The question I usually ask people is did they learn to ride a bicycle as a kid. Almost everybody says yes. Then I ask, can you un-learn it? They answer, well of course not. When you learn how to focus and concentrate and when your brain learns that, it cant unlearn that, either," Ellis Said.
For Fischer, the change was clear.
"I came from failing to passing," He says.
Now out of high school and with nothing holding him back, Fischer says his opportunities are endless.
"Being able to do things on my own, it's kind of starting to feel like that adult that I'm trying to get to," Fischer said.
Ellis is one of 20 finalists competing for the $100,000 prize to be announced next week at the ACU Springboard Idea Challenge.
If he wins, Ellis plans to expand ADHD Abilene into ten other cities in Texas.
It's actually being controlled by the brain, using a therapy called Neurofeedback. Its a non invasive way to treat ADHD and learning disabilities, and it's helped young people like Charlie Fischer overcome challenges.
"I was told up front by the teacher that I was stupid, that my work was stupid," Says Fischer.
That was in second grade, and he spent most of his life believing it. Until 4 years ago, when he met Richard Ellis, owner of Abilene ADHD. Ellis has one of only a handful of clinics in the state of Texas using the fairly new therapy.
Within a month, Fischer noticed a change.
"I was starting to pay attention more, I could actually pay attention for longer periods of time," Fischer Says.
Neurofeedback works from the inside out, by training the brain to process more efficiently, by reinforcing essential skills for success at school or work.
"The games are set up so that when the clients get their brains working effectively, the computer game works, when their brains are not working effectively, it'll stop. And so he's able to change the state of his brain and those brain waves to make the game play," Ellis Explains
70 to 80 percent of kids see a positive, sometimes permanent change.
"The question I usually ask people is did they learn to ride a bicycle as a kid. Almost everybody says yes. Then I ask, can you un-learn it? They answer, well of course not. When you learn how to focus and concentrate and when your brain learns that, it cant unlearn that, either," Ellis Said.
For Fischer, the change was clear.
"I came from failing to passing," He says.
Now out of high school and with nothing holding him back, Fischer says his opportunities are endless.
"Being able to do things on my own, it's kind of starting to feel like that adult that I'm trying to get to," Fischer said.
Ellis is one of 20 finalists competing for the $100,000 prize to be announced next week at the ACU Springboard Idea Challenge.
If he wins, Ellis plans to expand ADHD Abilene into ten other cities in Texas.
