Music Therapy as a Non-Pharmacological Intervention for Attention Span in School-Age Children and Adolescents with ADHD: A Scoping Review of Neurobiological Evidence

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, whose symptoms include impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity, with reduced attention span in school-aged children and adolescents (ages 5-21).This scoping review synthesizes evidence from current studies of music therapy on the attention span in this population with ADHD.Neuroimaging techniques (electroencephalogram) show that music therapy increases alpha power and decreases delta power, which correlates with increased attention span.Additionally, an increase in neurotransmitter levels of dopamine and serotonin shows the neurobiological basis for its effectiveness.The role of rhythmic elements is also being assessed for its contribution to attention enhancement, showing their effectiveness in music therapy.Music therapy improves attention span in this population without the side effects associated with pharmacological treatments like methylphenidate, which can cause appetite suppression and sleep problems.The reviewed studies are limited by small sample sizes and short intervention durations.Music therapy is a promising intervention for enhancing attention span in children and adolescents with ADHD.However, further longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes need to be conducted to ensure more robust evidence, potentially enhancing its clinical applicability.