How does music help those with ADHD?
One way to drown out background noises and put your attention on the work ahead is simple; listen to music. The rhythm, melody, and harmony of music are the structure needed to help people with ADHD focus.
Research shows that music increases dopamine levels in the brain. The neurotransmitter is responsible for regulating attention, working memory, and motivation and is in low supply for those with ADHD. Music can light up both left and right lobes and over time, will build up those activated brain muscles to help overall function.
“Music is very structured, and this appeals strongly to the ADHD mind. Your mind craves a sense of organization, and every song has a clear beginning, middle, and end, making it predictable. The beats and rhythm also have specific structures. This can help to refocus the mind as well as encourage better mental (and even physical) organization.” – Will Tottle
Determining which type of music helps you focus is highly individualized. With so many genres, it comes down to what motivates you. If you’re looking for different types of music that will help with your ADHD symptoms, check out these below and find out what works best for you-
Binaural beats can help create the frequency needed for your brain to create the same waves commonly experienced during meditation practice. The use of binaural is sometimes called brain wave entrainment technology.
Classical music builds a bigger, better brain. A study conducted by Donald Shetler, Ed.D., of the Eastman School of Music, found that kids who listened to classical music for 20 minutes a day had improved speech and language skills, a stronger memory, and greater organization of the brain.
Low-fidelity music, or lo-fi, is music recorded with intentional imperfections, such as misplayed notes, environmental noise, low hum, or phonographic audio imperfections. Lo-fi music helps the front lobe in our brain to focus – those flaws or low hums can also put the brain in the mindset to focus.
For best results, we recommend investing in a good quality set of headphones or earbuds for ideal sound quality and noise cancellation.
We’d love to know what music you listen to that helps get you through your workday. Please leave your song, artist, or playlist recommendations in the comments below.
List if resources:
https://psychcentral.com/adhd/adhd-music
https://www.additudemag.com/music-therapy-for-adhd-how-rhythm-builds-focus/
https://www.vaughn.edu/blog/studying-to-lo-fidelity-lo-fi-music-gets-high-marks-with-students/
https://www.healthline.com/health/binaural-beats
https://add.org/can-music-therapy-help-with-adhd/