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A guest post by Charles Carpenter of HealingSounds.info, describing how music can improve focus and cognitive ability in children diagnosed with ADHD.

Nineteenth century French novelist Victor Hugo said, “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” It’s long been known that music possesses healing and therapeutic powers that are little understood even today.

Alzheimer’s patients whose memories have been ravaged by the disease respond joyfully to music that their brain suddenly recalls from decades ago. And research has shown that music can help improve focus and cognitive ability in children with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). It reaches deep into those parts of the brain involved with communication and learning, boosts self-esteem and puts a new form of communication in children who struggle to maintain control of themselves.

A 2011 study found that music increases levels of dopamine, the neurotransmitter that produces feelings of pleasure in the brain, a substance people with ADHD have in low levels. Typically, chemical stimulants have been used to treat the disorder, but the effectiveness of music offers a positive alternative that not only helps children cope with their condition, but has proven effective at helping kids perform better at school.

Music as communal activity

The ensemble nature of music gives children with ADHD a fun opportunity to engage in a social and collaborative activity. ADHD patients engage with music in an informal manner which encourages creativity and builds auditory pathways that help children improve in their ability to focus and pay attention. Playing music together also relieves stress, reduces feelings of anxiety, mitigates depression and lessens the agitation and frustration that children with ADHD often experience. Whether singing together as a family or making music with friends in a therapeutic setting, kids experience positive feelings of shared enjoyment and the satisfaction of working toward a shared goal.

Rhythm and focus

Music therapy also reduces restlessness and impulsive behavior in children with ADHD, a significant problem for kids who have trouble controlling themselves in the classroom. This form of therapy uses the linear structure of rhythm to calm the brain and help kids stay focused. There are two basic approaches to music therapy with ADHD patients. In the active form of therapy, patient and therapist work together to make music, both vocally and instrumentally; in receptive therapy, the therapist plays music that the patient focuses on intently. Both give the patient an opportunity for creative expression and interpretation and helps activate the right side of the brain.

Universal language

Classical music is most often used in therapy; however, in recent years, therapists have branched out into other musical forms and styles, though loud and dissonant rock music is sometimes discouraged as a therapeutic medium. Today jazz, rhythm and blues, folk, blues and Broadway tunes are all used in therapy.

Much has been written about the Mozart Effect, which has proven effective in helping children with ADHD, autism and other developmental problems. French physicist Alfred Tomatis made the connection between learning difficulty and the middle ear, which differentiates between hearing and listening. Mozart’s compositions tend to occupy a higher frequency range, which Tomatis believed to be highly stimulating to that part of the brain that controls attentiveness.

Finding the right instrument

If finding the right instrument for your child seems elusive, consider the expansive woodwind family. For example, the saxophone is an instrument with a highly versatile tonal range. There are more than a dozen types, ranging from soprano to bass. It can be a challenging yet rewarding instrument to learn, though it’s important to select the right one for your child’s skill level. Consult your child’s instructor or band director, and take advantage of the experts at your local music stores.

Music for life

Try incorporating music into your child’s daily routine. Play the music of Mozart, Brahms and other Miles Davis on the way to school, or while your child is doing homework. Encourage new forms of music as a way to foster learning and instill a sense of discovery, and encourage your child to play an instrument. The more you can incorporate music into your child’s life, the more he or she will benefit from its remarkable ability to help increase mental focus and acuity.

Gust post by Charles Carpenter. Charles created HealingSounds.info. He believes in the power of music and sound as a healing tool. Image courtesy of Pixabay.com.

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The day you learn your child has been diagnosed with ADHD or a learning disability is the day you become an advocate for your child to ensure he or she has the best school experience possible. But it can be difficult if you aren’t certain about what your options are or who can offer assistance. The following is a brief guide to laws and resources for ensuring your ADHD child receives the accommodations that he needs at school.

The IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Act) is a law that was passed to allow for additional services and improvement of services for students with disabilities. Learning disabilities such as executive function issues, dyslexia, handwriting problems, issues with short or long-term memory, and metacognitive disorders are all covered under this law. Congress reauthorized the IDEA in 2004 and most recently amended the IDEA through Public Law 114-95, the Every Student Succeeds Act, in December 2015.

Students covered under the IDEA are required to have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) where school counselors, teachers, and other school administrators meet with parents regularly to help your child with his educational career. If your child has a diagnosed learning disability, you should speak with the school counselor to determine what services and accommodations your child is entitled to under the IDEA.

Children diagnosed with ADHD are covered under the IDEA if their ADHD significantly impairs academic performance. Schools will sometime push back if an ADHD child does not have a clear learning disability. Rather than an IEP, they may recommend that the student receive a 504 Plan, named after Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  The Rehabilitation Act, as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, guarantees children with physical or mental impairments that majorly affect their lives receive “reasonable and appropriate accommodations”. The ADA considers ADHD a disability and therefore, ADHD students are entitled to receive such accommodations under the law. What is considered “reasonable and appropriate accommodations” is determined by a team at the school and usually consists of such things as quiet spaces, extended or unlimited time for testing, and additional study assistance. Extended time on standardized tests can be particularly important when your ADHD-diagnosed child is preparing to take the ACT or SAT.

Note that while Section 504 does not apply to private schools that do not receive any federal funding, Section 504 does obligate private schools to enroll students with disabilities if the accommodations for the student cause only a “minor adjustment”. Typically, time accommodations on tests are considered a “minor adjustment”. The ADA applies to private schools with the exception of private schools that are directly operated by religious institutions. Between these two laws, it should be possible for your ADHD-diagnosed child to receive reasonable accommodations at most any school.

Often, your greatest asset in helping your child to receive the accommodations he needs is the school counselor. School counselors are often under-utilized by parents, but their job is to be an advocate for your child’s academic, personal/social, and career development and they are trained to assist parents with these issues. If for some reason the counselor is unable to help you, most private schools and public school districts have a student services office that can assist you infilling out the necessary paperwork to get your child the accommodations he needs. Additionally, speaking with your child’s teachers about his limitations can often result in the teacher working with your child to make his learning environment more accommodating to his needs.

There are a number of websites and organizations that help parents to advocate for and learn more about the rights of their ADHD-diagnosed or learning disabled student. Links to some of those can be found at the end of this blog post. My personal experience as a homework coach is that many ADHD-diagnosed students show marked improvement on tests when they are given time accommodations that allow them to fully process the information and take their time in answering rather than rushing through to answer as many questions as possible before time runs out. The steps to helping your child receive accommodations are simple, but often do require that you proactively seek out those resources within the school that can help you to advocate for your child’s educational success.

Free Download: Accommodations List for IEP and 504 Plan

For more information:

About the ADA: http://www.pacer.org/publications/adaqa/school.asp

About Section 504: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html

Comparison of IDEA and Section 504: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/medicating/schools/feds.html

CHADD-An organization with information about ADHD and ADHD advocacy: http://www.chadd.org/

HealthyPlace-Parent Advocacy-This site has a number of articles to help you advocate for your child: http://www.healthyplace.com/adhd/articles/parent-advocate-advocating-for-your-adhd-child/

ADDitude Magazine article on advocating for classroom accommodations: http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/711.html

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When our homework coaches first meet with new students, one of the first things they do is conduct a learning style assessment. Everyone learns differently and the learning style assessment allows our coaches to find strategies that best fit each student’s learning needs. To help your child to study, learn, and retain information, it may be useful to determine which of these learning styles best fits your child.

• Visual. Visual learners learn best through what they can see. Visual learners often have to watch a task being performed before they can perform it. They may also prefer to read information or have it presented in graphic form in order to truly understand what is being taught.
  • Learning strategies for visual learners: Visual learners often benefit from the use of flashcards to study vocabulary, math, and other concepts. Sites such as quizlet.com are useful for students to create sets of flashcards they can use to study for tests. Reviewing notes can also be a useful strategy for these students. ADHD students who are visual learners may benefit from copies of teacher Powerpoint slides, reviewing pictures of events (such as for a history test), or viewing diagrams and charts.

• Auditory. Auditory learners learn best through hearing. Students who are auditory learners must hear information stated in order to learn and retain it. These students may prefer to study by having information read aloud to them rather than by reading it themselves.
  • Learning strategies for auditory learners: Auditory students may benefit from recording classroom lectures so that they can replay them again later. Oftentimes, the use of a tape recorder in class is considered a reasonable accommodation for ADHD students. These students may also benefit from listening to audio versions of books rather than reading the book. These students may also learn better if they play soft music while completing homework.

• Kinesthetic/Tactile. Kinesthetic learners learn best through doing. Students who are kinesthetic learners are “hands-on”. These students need to be able to work through a problem themselves to understand it. Kinesthetic learners often cannot sit still for long periods of time and may benefit from being allowed to move around while they think or read.
  • Learning strategies for kinesthetic learners: Kinesthetic learners often benefit from demonstrations and experiments when learning scientific concepts. These students may need to use LEGOs or clay to create learning devices that help them to understand a problem. A kinesthetic learner may use counting cubes or blocks when understanding a math concept. Using highlighters when reviewing information can help kinesthetic learners to focus in on important details.

Some students may only have one learning style while others have a combination of learning styles. Understanding how your child learns best may help you to find ways to assist your child in being a more effective and successful student. If you’d like to determine your child’s learning style, have them take a quiz online at http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles.shtml.

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