Brown noise for ADHD is thought to be particularly beneficial. Brown noise, like white noise, plays sound at all frequencies. However, brown noise plays lower frequencies louder and high frequencies softer. It's thought to be a better
Since people with ADHD can get easily distracted by surrounding stimuli, listening to brown noise could help minimize auditory distractions, allowing them to concentrate better on what they're doing. Some people may also find that it helps quiet their internal whirlwind of thoughts, making it easier to focus.
More recently brown noise gathered attention that this may be helpful for ADHD symptoms and sleep. Brown noise is mainly using lower frequencies, creating lower-pitched noises that sound more pleasant to some.
More research is necessary, but studies suggest that white noise may help people with the inattentive symptoms of ADHD. Research has also shown that white and pink noise may help improve certain sleep problems. Brown noise may help with concentration and anxiety.
Music can be helpful for people with ADHD, but that comes with stipulations. For example, listening to binaural audio, background music without vocals, or chill electronic music like lo-fi hip hop can help ADHDers with focus and concentration.
White or brown noise appears to help the brain harness the neurons, focus attention and quiet noisy thoughts. It's unclear whether these types of sounds could also benefit people who don't have ADHD.
For many people with ADHD, steady background noises will improve concentration and fixation on given tasks1 because it blocks out otherwise distracting and unwanted background noises. At the same time, white noise is suspected to stimulate dopamine production in the brain.
This noise induces SR in the neurotransmitter systems and makes this noise beneficial for cognitive performance. In particular, the peak of the SR curve depends on the dopamine level, so that participants with low dopamine levels (ADHD) require more noise for optimal cognitive performance compared to controls.
Through a proposed phenomenon called stochastic resonance, white noise may have the ability to improve symptoms in children with ADHD. Empirically, white noise therapy has been able to improve certain tasks affected by ADHD symptoms, including speech recognition and reading and writing speed.
Pink noise and brown noise
Pink noise has some of the higher-pitched tones removed. Brown noise is more of a deep rumbly sound and is my personal favourite to listen to as I fall asleep. White, pink or brown noise may not only block out household noise but can help your child to relax and fall asleep.
Green noise is around a frequency of 500 Hz, Huffington Post reports. Brown noise has a lower, deeper vibe, though it still contains every frequency like white noise. The New York Times describes it as soothing, steady, and rumbly, and notes that it made waves in online ADHD communities in 2022.
While not all people with ADHD have sound sensitivity and not all with sound sensitivity have ADHD, the sensory issue is often comorbid (ADHD doesn't cause sound sensitivity, but they are comorbid due to other conditions such as autism or misophonia).
White noise doesn't work for everyone, but it's definitely worth trying! Unfortunately, it's common for children with autism to have difficulties communicating how they feel and what they need. It might be that your autistic child does not like to sleep alone.
Sound: Many people with ADHD are hypersensitive to auditory stimulants such as multiple simultaneous conversations, loud music, fireworks, or grating noises. For these individuals, such sounds could result in a stress reaction.
Steady pink noise may help people relax for sleep by masking bothersome sounds. One early study found that playing steady pink noise at 60 decibels — more or less the volume of a refrigerator — helped participants fall asleep faster. View Source .
It happens when an ADHDer is hyper-sensitive to the sensory information their brain receives, causing them to experience certain sensations more intensely or longer than normal. This leads to overstimulation and a “fight or flight” response, which may affect how a person functions daily.
Music's inherent rhythm and structure soothe the ADHD mind and keep it on a linear path. However, background noise is actually an impediment to focus for some people with noise sensitivity; for them, sound can serve as a distraction all its own and silence is golden.
It can promote the production of delta brain waves, which are associated with deep sleep and relaxation. Green noise can also reduce the perception of tinnitus, a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears that can interfere with sleep.
Brown noise has gained popularity online due to its apparent ability to create an immersive experience to boost focus, tune out racing thoughts, enhance relaxation, reduce anxiety and promote sleep.
Pink noise is a constant sound in the background. It filters out things that distract you, like people talking or cars going by, so they don't interrupt your sleep. You may hear it called ambient noise. Like white noise, it's a steady background hum that may give you a better night's sleep.
Use of violet noise:
The high frequency can be distracting to rest. However, this noise is great for treating people with conditions like tinnitus. Tinnitus is when people hear ringing in one or both of their ears. Violet noise can help mask the ringing sound.
Often someone who has ADHD can think better and stay on task longer if there is some white noise in her surroundings—maybe softly playing music, a fan in the corner, or the hum from an overhead air vent.