ADHD in Children: How Music Therapy Can Be A Good Form Of Treatment

Many parents of ADHD children may still opt for physician's prescription, combined with traditional psychotherapy (such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). However, child psychologists today are widely recommending music therapy which complements psychotherapy or as a part of a multi-modal ADHD treatment. Music influences mood and reduces restlessness and impulsiveness. Music also soothes anxiety and stress in the body, and children with ADHD often feel anxious and stressed.

How it Soothes Them

Music therapy is proven effective on ADHD children since music has a structure in it's patterns and rhythm. Structure is calming to an ADHD brain struggling to regulate itself assisting it to organize and strategize, thus helping ADHD children to plan, anticipate, and react to go through the daily activities of life. "Music exists in time, with a clear beginning, middle, and end," says Kirsten Hutchison, a music therapist at Music Works Northwest, as per ADDitude.

The Right Kind Of Music

In music therapy, ADHD children can simply listen or create music. Composing or writing song lyrics and music or just playing along with pre-recorded music can also be part of the therapy. ADHD children don't need any musical talent for the therapy, what music does is it lets them express how they feel and it can be tailored to each child's specific needs.

Classical music though is thought to provide relaxation, calming the human body. Some of the known benefits of listening to classical music include better academic performance, improved learning time, clearer thinking, peaceful sleep and noticeable improvement on both brain hemispheres to work in synchronization, according to KidsGoals.

Half a million children were diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in 1985. The number has increased estimating of about five to seven million children today and more and more ADHD children are treated with music therapy. Let your child listen to the music below: