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Sensory white noise in clinical ADHD : Who benefits from noise, and who performs worse?

Söderlund, Göran B W ; Hadjikhani, Nouchine ; Thorsson, Max LU ; E-Said, Sara ; Claesdotter-Knutsson, Emma LU ; Gustafsson, Peik LU orcid and Johnels, Jakob Åsberg (2024) In Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology 12(1). p.92-99
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Experimental research has shown the benefits of auditory white noise on cognitive performance in children with attention problems. However, little is currently known about individual differences in noise response amongst children with a clinical diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In addition, no research has so far tested the effects of visual white noise on children with ADHD.

OBJECTIVES: The present work aimed at testing the effect of visual and auditory white noise on cognitive performance in children diagnosed with ADHD.

METHOD: Forty-three children with ADHD diagnosis performed a visuo-spatial working memory test with experimentally controlled auditory and visual white noise.... (More)

BACKGROUND: Experimental research has shown the benefits of auditory white noise on cognitive performance in children with attention problems. However, little is currently known about individual differences in noise response amongst children with a clinical diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In addition, no research has so far tested the effects of visual white noise on children with ADHD.

OBJECTIVES: The present work aimed at testing the effect of visual and auditory white noise on cognitive performance in children diagnosed with ADHD.

METHOD: Forty-three children with ADHD diagnosis performed a visuo-spatial working memory test with experimentally controlled auditory and visual white noise. Symptomatic and demographic data were collected.

RESULTS: Surprisingly, results did not show significant effects of noise across the full sample of ADHD children. However, responses to noise appeared to affect subgroups of ADHD children differently: Those with relatively more inattentive traits responded positively on noise exposure whereas those with relatively more hyperactive/impulsive traits performed worse during noise exposure. Individual differences in noise response in the auditory and visual modalities were strongly correlated.

CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider individual differences in response to noise exposure, and to take into account the specific ADHD symptom profile (inattentive vs. hyperactive/impulsive) in applying noise to support cognitive performance in children with ADHD.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology
volume
12
issue
1
pages
92 - 99
external identifiers
  • pmid:39583636
ISSN
2245-8875
DOI
10.2478/sjcapp-2024-0010
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© 2024 Göran B W Söderlund et al., published by Sciendo.
id
be952166-182d-4439-91a5-0c0be733e721
date added to LUP
2024-11-26 21:21:19
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:31:32
@article{be952166-182d-4439-91a5-0c0be733e721,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Experimental research has shown the benefits of auditory white noise on cognitive performance in children with attention problems. However, little is currently known about individual differences in noise response amongst children with a clinical diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In addition, no research has so far tested the effects of visual white noise on children with ADHD.</p><p>OBJECTIVES: The present work aimed at testing the effect of visual and auditory white noise on cognitive performance in children diagnosed with ADHD.</p><p>METHOD: Forty-three children with ADHD diagnosis performed a visuo-spatial working memory test with experimentally controlled auditory and visual white noise. Symptomatic and demographic data were collected.</p><p>RESULTS: Surprisingly, results did not show significant effects of noise across the full sample of ADHD children. However, responses to noise appeared to affect subgroups of ADHD children differently: Those with relatively more inattentive traits responded positively on noise exposure whereas those with relatively more hyperactive/impulsive traits performed worse during noise exposure. Individual differences in noise response in the auditory and visual modalities were strongly correlated.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider individual differences in response to noise exposure, and to take into account the specific ADHD symptom profile (inattentive vs. hyperactive/impulsive) in applying noise to support cognitive performance in children with ADHD.</p>}},
  author       = {{Söderlund, Göran B W and Hadjikhani, Nouchine and Thorsson, Max and E-Said, Sara and Claesdotter-Knutsson, Emma and Gustafsson, Peik and Johnels, Jakob Åsberg}},
  issn         = {{2245-8875}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{92--99}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology}},
  title        = {{Sensory white noise in clinical ADHD : Who benefits from noise, and who performs worse?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/sjcapp-2024-0010}},
  doi          = {{10.2478/sjcapp-2024-0010}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}