The Potential of Music Training to Improve Attentional Control and Inhibitory Control in Children with ADHD

Abstract

Research has documented how music training boosts executive functioning and that a similar intervention called music therapy has been associated with a reduction in symptoms of Attention–Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This paper reviews the evidence on whether music training has the potential to improve two executive functions—attentional control and inhibitory control—in children with ADHD. As the research on how music training affects children with ADHD is limited, studies on the benefits of music training for similar neurodiverse conditions and the effect of music training on attention and inhibition in neurotypical individuals were reviewed. This data could act as preliminary evidence for how music training may benefit children with ADHD, but further research must involve these children to confirm that these findings apply to them.