Can the right music help students with ADHD focus better?

We’ve all seen students pop in their earbuds, hoping music will help them concentrate. But for those with ADHD, could some types of music actually make focusing easier or harder?

In a small but fascinating study, researchers worked with 11 university students diagnosed with ADHD to test how different sounds impacted concentration.

Over four days, participants completed cognitive tasks while listening to either classical music, binaural beats, their preferred music, or after taking ADHD medication. Brain activity was monitored using near-infrared spectroscopy to track changes in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region closely tied to attention.

So, what are binaural beats?

In simple terms, they’re specially designed sounds where slightly different frequencies are played in each ear, creating a pulsing effect inside the brain. Some believe they can improve focus or relaxation, but in this study, binaural beats actually slowed reaction times and made sustained attention harder for participants with ADHD.

The results?

Medication still offered the strongest boost for attention. But when it came to music, classical pieces (like Beethoven) and participants’ favorite songs often supported focus better than binaural beats. The key factor seemed to be familiarity and enjoyment.

For music educators, this raises an important question: when we put background music on in class to help students focus, are we actually making it harder for some?

Instead, we might explore ways to help students select music that works best for them, inviting them to create personal playlists, choose between instrumental or lyrical tracks, or even decide how close they want the music source to be (for example, personal headphones vs room speakers).

Giving students some control over these choices could better support attention, particularly for learners who process concentration differently.