If Your Child Has ADHD, Music Therapy Can Help

By: Robert Porter

Updated August 29, 2019

Medically Reviewed By: Lauren Guilbeault

Music is something that makes so many people feel good about. If you think back on tough times in your life, you will likely remember a time when music was there for you and made you feel at ease. There are many people who use music as a way to relax and calm down after a stressful day. It should come as no surprise to hear that music therapy is something that can help children who have ADHD.

ADHD music therapy may not be something that is incredibly well-known, but it is very effective. If you're the parent of an ADHD child, then you're likely looking for ways to help your child gain focus. ADHD can take a toll on your child and it makes many aspects of life that much more difficult. The potential is there for music to help your child out by increasing their focus and giving them a sense of calm.

What is Music Therapy?

Music therapy is something that seeks to help people achieve greater mental health through the use of music. There are specific music therapists out there who practice this type of therapy. They will perform guided sessions that will help people to relax, gain motivation, and lower their stress levels. This has proven to be a great therapy style for children who have ADHD issues.

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You should also know that music therapy isn't referring to just one type of musical engagement. This type of therapy can involve playing music, listening to music, composing music, or even playing along to songs while you're listening. The style and genre of music that is being used aren't particularly important. The important aspect of this therapy is simply taking the time to engage with music.

Some patients who go through music therapy will learn how to play an instrument. Others will simply learn to use listening to music to help them center themselves. When it comes to children with ADHD, music therapists will often simply pick something that appeals to the child. Once the child has found an instrument or style of music that they connect with, the therapy can really start to take off.

What Are the Benefits of Music Therapy?

The benefits of music therapy are various. There are many studies that show that music has a positive impact on cognitive ability. Learning to play music can also improve memory function. Simply engaging with music increases the potential to improve your memory and it can even give you better decision-making skills.

For children with ADHD, this is going to be a very good thing. ADHD is associated with cognitive problems, a lack of focus, forgetfulness, and many other negative things. Music therapy has a higher likelihood to turn things around in your child's favor. It can definitely make your child more focused and engaged at school if they have successful music therapy sessions.

One of the reasons why music therapy works so well is due to the fact that it helps with timing. People who have ADHD wind up having problems with their timing. Keeping things in rhythm does not come naturally to people with ADHD. This is why learning about music can focus the minds of children with ADHD, allowing them to improve their rhythm over time.

Interestingly, the benefits of improved rhythm can help in many aspects of life. It can help with social problems and will make it easier to focus on schoolwork. Children also really enjoy this type of therapy because it is fun and engaging. A skilled music therapist knows how to get a child involved in the process in order to achieve the maximum benefits.

It's also important to note that music simply makes people happy. When we are listening to music that we like, dopamine is released in the brain. People who struggle with ADHD usually have lower dopamine levels, meaning that music can help to even things out. This is a good type of therapy that is incredibly practical to make use of.

Is Just Listening to Music Considered Therapy?

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Yes, just listening to music can be considered a part of music therapy. Many children are going to have an easier time focusing if you choose to make use of music. There are actually many ADHD children who listen to background music while they study in order to improve their overall concentration levels. This is a very easy way to help manage ADHD symptoms.

Simply do your best to find music that your child finds relaxing and soothing. They'll likely be more interested in the music if you allow them to choose it as well. You can determine what is going to be appropriate for your child to listen to, of course. Something that has a relaxed vibe to it would likely be ideal for this type of therapy.

If your therapist mentions doing this, then you should definitely consider giving it a try. It has really helped out a lot of people. There are actually many therapists who make use of music as part of the therapy process. You don't necessarily have to go to a specific music therapist to get advice on this.

Can You Just Listen to Music Yourself Without Seeing a Therapist?

Technically, you could enjoy music therapy without having to reach out to a therapist that specializes in it. If you want to try out music therapy in your own home, then it's one of the easiest types of therapy to perform. Trying to get your child to engage with music may wind up being easy enough for you to accomplish. Some people will benefit from having the guidance of a therapist, though.

Regardless, the benefits of listening to music are going to be worth your time. You can try to get your child to show an interest in music to help combat their ADHD problems. It may be worth trying to get them to learn how to play music too. Music teaches you to think in different ways and these skills will be very useful to those who suffer from ADHD.

Just keep in mind that music therapy is not the solution that everyone needs. This is something that works well for many people, but it may not be something that your child can connect with. Most children really love this type of therapy but there are no guarantees. It's a promising type of therapy that helps many kids to manage ADHD symptoms. It can be performed with the help of a music therapist but it might not be a replacement for traditional forms of therapy either.

Remember That Music Won't Replace Medication

It's important to recognize that music can't replace medication or other forms of treatment. Music can be an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to managing your child's ADHD, but it's likely that your child is still going to need medication in order to keep ADHD symptoms in check. It's crucial to work closely with your doctors to keep things moving in the right direction.

Music therapy can be a powerful tool but it's likely going to be part of the solution. Ensuring that your child has the right medication is going to be another important part of the process. You'll have to work with a doctor to determine whether or not you'll need to make use of stimulant-based medications or non-stimulant medications. Your doctor may even recommend other types of therapy as a good idea.

ADHD isn't something that has to get the better of your child. As a proactive parent, you're going to be able to ensure that they have the ability to focus and succeed at everything that they do. ADHD might be stressful at times, but you can manage it properly with the right help. Music therapy is one important tool in your belt that you should pull out when it's called for. It's proven to be effective and it's one of the easiest forms of therapy to make use of.

Online Therapy is Also There for You

You should also know that online therapy is there for you whenever you're in need. Online therapy is a great way to get your child the help that they need. It isn't always going to be convenient to go seek traditional therapy at a therapist's office in town. Online therapy allows you to get the right help from the comfort of your own home.

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Simply being able to reach out to a therapist at any time is hugely beneficial. You won't have to worry about office hours and you'll be able to focus on getting your child help when they need it. Your child can work with the licensed online therapist to work on their problems. It will make managing ADHD symptoms easier while allowing them to increase their ability to focus over time.

These professionals understand how difficult ADHD issues can be on a family. You will always be able to rely on these therapists to be there for you. Their services are very affordable and the results are going to be good. You can count on online therapists whenever you're in need. They can help with a lot more than ADHD problems as well.

If you're ever in need of help for depression or anxiety issues, then these online therapists will be ready to assist you with that as well. All of your needs can be taken care of online. It will allow you to keep your costs low while getting the help that you need. Reach out to the online therapists today in order to get started. Your child will be able to make progress and they'll always have a professional that they can count on who is ready to help.