The Sound of Focus: An Initial Inquiry

Do individuals diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) find themselves more drawn to background music as they tackle various tasks? Kelly-Ann Lachance, a doctoral candidate specializing in clinical neuropsychology, sought to explore this very question.Her research delves into the subjective impact of ambient music on young adults managing ADHD.

Lachance, driven by a desire to bridge research and practical application, emphasized the importance of accessible findings. As a future clinician, I try to use research to help the people I will follow. This commitment led to the selection of an open-access platform for disseminating her work.

Methodology: An Online Exploration

The study, featured in Frontiers in Psychology, involved an online survey completed by 434 participants aged 17 to 30. lachance collaborated with Nathalie Gosselin, a neuropsychologist and professor at the University of Montreal, who served as her thesis director. The survey aimed to capture the participants’ music listening habits and their subjective experiences.

The online format, launched following the pandemic, allowed for broad participation. Certain parts of the survey already existed, but we have gathered questions on music listening habits and its subjective effects in a single online questionnaire, which is filled in a fortnight, Lachance explained.

The survey incorporated the Adult ADHD Self-Report Screening Scale for DSM-5 (ASRS-5), a self-assessment tool for ADHD. Of the participants, 118 exhibited indicators of ADHD, while 316 were identified as neurotypical. It is a speedy way to take the pulse of the symptoms, Lachance noted.

Furthermore, the survey included questions designed to gauge the participants’ recent emotional states, including levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Nathalie Gosselin elaborated on this aspect: Music is used to modulate emotions and we wanted to make sure to take these aspects into consideration in the study. Gosselin also directs the music, emotions, and cognition research laboratory and is a researcher at Brams, an international brain research laboratory focused on music and sound.

Key Findings: The Daily Soundtrack of ADHD

The study revealed that individuals with suspected ADHD reported listening to background music more frequently during both cognitive and non-cognitive activities. these activities ranged from reading and studying to exercising and commuting. Notably, participants with ADHD listened to significantly more music while studying compared to their neurotypical counterparts. Though, neurotypical individuals spent more time each week listening to music actively, without engaging in other tasks simultaneously.

While the researchers found these results intriguing, they also acknowledged choice interpretations. We could also have imagined that music constitutes an interference during a demanding cognitive task, Gosselin pointed out. This could have led to individuals with ADHD being less engaged in music during such tasks.

Though,the collected data suggested a preference for stimulating music among those with ADHD. Lachance proposed a potential description: Literature tells us that people with ADHD need more activation to obtain a result equivalent to that of neurotypical people. Music could contribute, nonetheless of the type of activity. Gosselin cautioned that this remains a hypothesis requiring further examination.

The Therapeutic Potential: A Beneficial Habit?

The prevalence of music listening among individuals with ADHD raises important questions about its potential benefits. Does it enhance concentration? Does it boost motivation?

Gosselin shared a personal anecdote that sparked her interest in this area:

My first neuropsychology internship was in child psychiatry. In my first follow-ups, the parent of a teenager with attention difficulties asked me if it was an excellent idea that his young listening to music by studying. She recalls. I was not sure what to answer as we had no convincing data in the literature in this regard, but it always remained in mind. Nathalie Gosselin, neuropsychologist and professor at the University of montreal

given the ubiquity and accessibility of music, exploring its potential as a complementary strategy for managing ADHD symptoms is warranted. Music does not replace medication, but could be a complement. How to use music at its full potential to promote optimal performance? Lachance pondered. This research paves the way for future studies and laboratory experiments aimed at unlocking the therapeutic potential of music for individuals with ADHD.