Music Therapy for Children with ADHD
Dr. Oliver Sacks, a professor of Neurology of Columbia University said, “No one can activate the brain very well like music”. Sacks stated this when he documented the power of music to make people with Parkinson’s disease who are disabled can make a little movement, to calm people with Tourette’s syndrome, and neural repair “disconnected” in autism.
Sacks also proved that music therapy can also be used in children with ADHD (Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder), because music can improve focus and attention, reducing hyperactivity, and strengthen social skills. ADHD itself is a syndrome characterized by an inability of children to focus, concentrate, and quiet. Children with ADHD usually show hyperactive behavior in a variety of levels.
How Can Music Therapy Help?
How can music therapy in children AHDH? First, the music helped form the structure. Music is a rhythm, and rhythm is the structure that helps to calm children with ADHD whose brain is always trying to adjust him to be calm through a linear path. Meanwhile, the music appears in a certain time, with a beginning, middle, and end is clearly divided. This structure helps the brain of children with ADHD to plan, anticipate, and how to react.
Music also stimulates nerve synapses. Research shows that good music can increase dopamine in the brain. This neurotransmitter substance serves to regulate attention / concentration, memory, and motivation-three things very weak performance in children with ADHD. Music nerve connects the brain with other cognitive activities. That is why; listening to music can turn left and right brain at the same time.
Addition The Social Nature
In addition the social nature of music, just like an orchestra, if one musical instrument disappears, then the music cannot be played. That is, in all forms of music sounds have their respective roles. ADHD children are given the opportunity to play music in a therapy session can learn to listen, to take a turn, anticipate change, and received instruction in a specific way.
