Music & ADHD

We don't know a lot about the exact causes of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), especially given how much it is discussed and diagnosed. While stimulant drugs such as Ritalin are the most commonly used therapy for ADHD, there are many non-drug alternative therapies shown to be effective in treating some of the symptoms of ADHD. Treatments include changes in diet, refocusing exercises and behavioral modification. Music has been shown in studies to positively effect children with emotional disorders and this association has carried over into studies of music therapy and ADHD.

Background

• ADHD is a disorder that is diagnosed in childhood and is responsible for behavioral symptoms such as inability to focus or pay attention, impulsive and hyperactive behavior and difficulty controlling behavior. Current science suggests that genetics play a role in ADHD, but the precise cause of the disorder is unknown. Environmental factors such as food additives, exposure to lead and the use of cigarettes and alcohol by the mother during pregnancy are also being examined. ADHD cannot be cured and continues into adulthood, but the symptoms are not as noticeable or debilitating as they are in childhood.

Rock Music

• Thomas Armstrong, PhD., in his book "The Myth of the A.D.D. Child," devotes a chapter to musical therapy as a way to promote focus and calm behavior. He cites a study by the Oregon Health Sciences University that showed that children who have been labeled with ADHD displayed less hyperactive behavior when they listened to rock music through individual headsets. Researchers speculated the children's cerebellum was stimulated by the music and that it overrode any outside distractions, which promoted better focus. They also posited that the beat released tension in facial muscles, which had a calming effect. This result echoed other small studies.

Mozart

• In "The Mozart Effect," noted author Don Campbell shared the results of his research into music and learning. He found that the music of Mozart, in particular, had an effect in improving the learning ability of children with learning disorders, including ADHD, due to its ability to reduce stress and anxiety. Stress is one of the triggers for hyperactivity in children with ADHD.

Classroom

• Daphne Rickson, in a 2006 study published in the Journal of Music Therapy, found that music therapy may contribute to a reduction in a number of ADHD symptoms experienced in the classroom. A treatment that combined auditory therapy with instructional therapy resulted in "significant reduction in Conners' DSM-IV Total and Global Index subscale scores." These are tests used to rate the severity of ADHD symptoms, such as impulsiveness, inattention and hyperactivity.

Binaural Beats

• Binaural beats, two sounds generated at tha same time in a pattern, have been studied for their effect on children and teens with ADHD. In a study published in the February 2010 issue of the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, researchers found that, while inattention was not significantly affected in study tests, parents and study participants reported an improvement in homework problems caused by inattention during the course of the three-week study.