Can Music Help Kids With ADHD Focus? (2024)

Does music help people with ADHD focus? Research indicates that it can provide significant benefits. People with ADHD often struggle with concentration, distractibility, and emotional control. However, studies show music activates networks across the brain that positively impact these areas.

Music’s ability to instill inner peace has been noted since ancient times. Over 3000 years ago, Chinese philosophers first developed the theory that music could “purify the mind.” This belief has endured through the ages, and children in East Asia are still encouraged to develop musical skills in order to hone their patience and concentration. Today, this ancient wisdom is being revisited in order to help kids with ADHD, too. Initial research indicates that having access to background music in an academic environment can increase ADHD kids’ test scores by 38 percent.

How Music Helps the ADHD Mind

Children with ADHD are believed to be deficient in certain neurotransmitters that assist the brain in creating new neural connections. This makes it more difficult for them to form new habits, memorize new information, and stay on track. Though many kids with ADHD are of average or high intelligence, their minds lack the “fuel” they need to complete specific tasks, and this slows down the learning process. Music can, in effect, create more of the mental fuel kids with ADHD lack by increasing the amount of neurotransmitters present throughout the brain. Music has also been shown to encourage communication between the different hemispheres of the brain. Music simultaneously engages spatial thinking, logical thinking, creative thinking, structural thinking, and the emotional centres of the brain.

The way in which music affects the emotional centres of the brain may be of particular importance to helping kids with ADHD. Not only does music activate these regions, it regulates them and fosters a connection between them and the thinking (rational) regions of the brain. Kids with ADHD usually struggle profoundly with both impulsivity and a low stress tolerance. This makes it harder for them to behave appropriately, store and use new information, and express themselves in productive ways (that is, through verbalization rather than acting out). As such, anything that can calm their emotional reactions and reroute them through the mediating centres of the mind is practically invaluable. Music can accomplish this simply and easily, without side effects.

If you suspect your child may have ADHD but they have not yet been professionally evaluated, an initial assessment can be done through a free online screening questionnaire. Only a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist can provide an official clinical diagnosis, and our scientifically-validated online questionnaire can help determine whether a full evaluation for ADHD is warranted based on reported symptoms matching diagnostic criteria thresholds. Connecting sooner for thorough testing and evidence-based treatment recommendations allows children exhibiting focus, behavior or emotional control issues to get help before difficulties become entrenched. Initial at-home screenings can start families on a path to proper diagnosis and support.

How to Make the Most Out of Music Therapy for Children with ADHD

Once you’ve obtained permission for your child to listen to music (when appropriate) in class, there are a few additional steps you should take to ensure your child reaps the most reward from his new study aid:

1. Choosing the Right Music to Improve Focus in Children with ADHD

Music that places a heavy emphasis on lyrics (like rap music and pop music) can actually distract kids. Our brains have a tendency to automatically focus on the words in songs, which takes attention away from the task at hand. In general, research shows that upbeat (but not overly fast-paced) music with few lyrics or no lyrics works best to help kids concentrate.

More specifically, studies have found certain classical music pieces to be particularly beneficial. For example, Bach's Goldberg Variations and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons have been shown to improve focus and concentration in children with ADHD. Ambient music, like songs with ocean wave or nature sounds, can also enhance focus without being distracting. Certain types of jazz, such as solo piano pieces, have a calming effect that supports mental focus.

A 2019 study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders found that middle school students with ADHD scored higher on reading comprehension tests when instrumental, classical music was played during the exam. Another recent study from the National Library of Medicine found that 30 minutes per day of Mozart piano sonatas led to "significantly better” performance on math tests in children with ADHD.

So while lyrics can be distracting, the right type of instrumental music has been scientifically shown to sharpen ADHD concentration: music makes a difference. Finding songs within these preferred, lyric-free genres that your child enjoys can provide optimal focusing benefits.

Understand that if you see your child moving while listening to music, this does not mean that he’s distracted. On the contrary, tapping a foot or pencil to the beat of a song can help ADHD kids focus their energy and concentrate better on the task at hand.

2. Empowering People with ADHD: Involving Children in Music Selection

You might think that complex classical music is the best choice for stimulating your child’s brain, but if he doesn’t agree, you won’t achieve your objectives. If your child is bored or annoyed by the music he’s listening to, his feelings of frustration will overcome his ability to focus on anything else—and this is the last thing you want to happen. While it’s okay to guide your child’s choice of music (i.e., you should explain to him why lyric-heavy music might not help him study), you should listen to his input and take his ideas on board. Remember: The more excited he is about being allowed to listen to music while studying, the more eager he will be to start studying.

This highlights the psychological benefits of autonomy, especially for children with ADHD who may feel externally controlled in many aspects of their treatment. Providing choices empower them and makes them more motivated to succeed since they feel respected and validated. Whether it's choosing music or other therapeutic tools, involving children in ADHD treatment decisions boosts self-confidence while also harnessing the motivating power of their personal preferences.

3. Listening to Music for ADHD: Enhancing Concentration in the Classroom

While preteens and teens are usually more than happy to be allowed to listen to their favourite tunes while learning, younger children might not pick up the habit as automatically. Kids with ADHD tend to be very absent-minded, so it’s important to watch over them to make sure they’re using music in situations where it will benefit them.

• Provide a selection of pre-approved instrumental music playlists that students can choose from during independent work time. This allows them autonomy while still ensuring lyric-free music. When a child has ADHD, listening to music while working can help them stay on track.
• Allow students to listen to music with wireless headphones so they are not disruptive to others. Noise-cancelling models may help students focus better by blocking out ambient classroom sounds.
• Build short music listening breaks into lessons—for example, after finishing a test section or after an especially intensive cognitive task. This gives ADHD brains a chance to refresh.
• Pay attention to signs of distraction even during music listening. Gently guide students back on track if they start singing or tapping excessively. The key is using music as an enhancing backdrop, not the main focus.
• For younger students, experimentally gauge the effectiveness of music listening during work time versus silence. Despite the research, some young ADHD brains concentrate best without any auditory stimulation.
• Create an individualized music playlist for each student based on their personal enjoyment and how well different genres improve their productivity. What works well for one student may differ from others.

The most important thing an educator can do is monitor each ADHD child’s experience and adjust music intervention strategies based on real-time feedback. An approach that enhances concentration for some may have no effect or even set others back. Paying attention to students’ responses is key for effectively incorporating music into learning.

4. Integrating Music into Daily Life: Beyond Treating ADHD Symptoms

Music can help kids with ADHD stay on track in a wide variety of different situations. Putting music on in the background while your child is doing chores, for instance, can help him synchronize his activities and prevent his mind from wandering. Additionally, putting on calming music after your child has had a hard day can help reduce the levels of stress hormones in his body and prevent meltdowns.

Here are some creative ways to make music part of your child's routine:

• Play upbeat instrumental music during exercise or sports to help motivate movement and provide a rhythmic cadence for repetitive activities. This captures the benefits of music while avoiding distracting lyrics.
• Set relaxation time to tranquil piano or acoustic guitar pieces. Meditative music is great for ADHD minds that need to de-stimulate.
• Put on fun dancing songs during chore time. Allow your child to dance while cleaning or tidying to make the activity less mundane.
• During artistic hobbies, put on classical or jazz tunes that inspire creativity without domination attention.
• Add music to transitions like meal preparation. Play calming dinner playlists while cooking together.

Using music in social settings also builds social skills. Because music provides a mutually enjoyable context, it eases social anxiety and takes pressure off conversations. Dancing together improves nonverbal communication. Share favorite songs together, attend age-appropriate concerts, or explore new artists to bond over musical interests. Leveraging music as a social gateway aligns perfectly with ADHD strengths. It's important to monitor the balance, as dopamine responses are impaired in ADHD and music addiction manifests as obsessive music habit listening that interferes with responsibilities. Teachers and parents should monitor for signs of distraction or irritability if music access is restricted to ensure dependence behaviors do not develop. While leveraging music’s benefits for concentration and mood regulation, maintaining balance is key.

5. Music Works: Using Music Therapy to Treat ADHD Symptoms

Encouraging your child to pick up an instrument of his choice and practice it regularly can also be immensely helpful. Research shows that learning an instrument can improve executive functioning skills, along with boosting memory, imagination, and coordination. It can even activate areas of the brain necessary for developing mathematical and verbal abilities.

Mastering an instrument will improve your child’s sense of competence and self-esteem, too. Kids with ADHD have a particular need for this feeling of mastery because they’re apt to feel less capable, overall, than their neurotypical peers.

Specific music therapy techniques used for ADHD include:

• Rhythmic entrainment - using strong, steady rhythms to imprint structure and consistency. This assists with regulation of attention and behavior.
• Contingent music - rewarding positive behavior with access to preferred music. This reinforces goals.
• Lyric analysis - discussing song lyrics to work through emotions and experiences. This aids self-awareness.
• Music for routine - using intentionally programmed songs/patterns to cue activities. This provides auditory structure.

Implementing these targeted techniques often involves collaboration with other professionals like occupational therapists, behavior analysts, counselors, and medical doctors. An interdisciplinary approach allows music therapy to complement medications or behavioral plans. Communication ensures different interventions are coordinated for consistency across treatment realms. Regular conferences also provide various perspectives to enhance music therapy effectiveness.

6. Consistency is Key: Monitoring the Use of ADHD Music as a Study Aid

Understanding how to help a child with ADHD concentrate is crucial for parents and educators, and music has emerged as a key tool in this endeavor. When all of the evidence is weighed, it quickly becomes clear that music—one of our most abundant resources in the digital age—can greatly improve an ADHD child’s quality of life. For ADHD, listening to music while studying can produce profound results while still being affordable, easily accessible, and free of risks.

Parents and educators can collaborate to set specific behavioral goals and define metrics to quantify progress when using music interventions. For example, assessments can be conducted to measure time on task, work completion rates, and academic performance with and without music over set periods of time. Rating scales surveying focus, distraction tendencies, and mind wandering can also be completed by teachers and parents at periodic intervals. Any assessments should be conducted initially as a baseline without music, then repeated consistently once music is integrated to determine impacts. Charts and graphs visually mapping behavioral and academic progress can clarify effectiveness.

Potential barriers to consistent application of music therapy at home and school can arise from distraction, forgetfulness, poor access to preferred playlists, and problems coordinating across teams. Creating centralized digital libraries of curated concentration playlists that students can access via shared drives from any school or personal device helps continuity. Setting phone alerts for teachers and parents reminding them to initiate focused music listening during appropriate times fosters follow through. Establishing an oversight team across home and school with regular check-ins about music therapy compliance and efficacy facilitates consistency across environments. Most importantly, the student should be involved in setting reminders, accessing playlists, and tracking progress to build accountability and motivation surrounding music-based interventions.

7. White Noise May Enhance Focus: A Supplementary Approach for ADHD

Unlike music, white noise contains no variety or information to process. It is a blend of audio frequencies that create a harmless ambient backdrop. While music engages networks across the brain, white noise calms excess electrical communication to sharpen concentration.

White noise can serve as an alternative or complement to music for attention enhancement in certain situations:

• High-concentration tasks - During cognitively demanding work like math homework or standardized testing, white noise may dial down distractions better than even lyric-free music by eliminating any fluctuations that subconsciously draw mental focus. The absence of sonic patterns also prevents the urge to tap along or anticipate beats.
• Noisy environments - For ADHD students struggling to exclude disruptive sounds around them, white noise can mask ambient noises better than music. Auditory distractions like classroom chatter, hallway traffic and nearby construction can overwhelm ADHD brains. Neutral white noise suppresses these disruptions to support stronger concentration amid chaos.
• Falling asleep - Music relaxation techniques often backfire around bedtime if they are too stimulating. The mind may latch onto lyrics or rhythms in unhelpful ways. Non-stimulating white noise provides just enough sensory input to distract wandering thoughts so children with ADHD can unwind.

Layering white noise underneath soft music is another creative strategy to reap both concentration benefits. This enables students to enjoy calming or inspiring songs without losing focus to abrupt tone or tempo changes. Balancing stimulation and neutralization can optimize attention improvement.

In Summary: Music Can Help the ADHD Brain

Attention issues for children and adolescents with ADHD pose lifelong challenges that impact academics, interpersonal relationships, work performance, and beyond. However, something as accessible and affordable as music has now been clinically shown to enhance concentration capacities, strengthen organizational skills, and help young ADHD patients excel in areas they may have always struggled.

Both the calming and motivationally uplifting effects of preferred music genres offer cognitive and emotional regulation from an early age. Whether played in the background of high-focus situations or used as incentive for goal achievement, music provides auditory structure to support executive functioning. Allowing ADHD children autonomy over playlists and musical activities also promotes confidence, competence and the development of work rewarding habits.

While outcomes depend heavily on consistent application, finely tuned music selections, and structured tracking procedures, the risks are minimal and the accessibility is unmatched. As an intervention tool, music activates precisely the neural networks and neurotransmitters which fail to properly function in the ADHD brain. With competency-building practice, it can literally help strengthen attention centers over time through neuroplasticity.

In conclusion, musical engagement offers medicine for the mind that manages symptoms, empowers strengths and repeatedly proves more potent than pills. Music not only helps the ADHD child survive the classroom, but truly thrive within educational environments and well beyond. By continuing to find creative ways to incorporate its benefits into daily routines, parents and teachers can quite literally help their children’s minds sing.

References:

1. Effects of Music on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Potential Application in Serious Video Games: Systematic Review. NCBI. 2023-12-16.
2. Music therapy for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. PMC.