Acoustic and Vestibular Noise as Possible Non-pharmacological Treatments of ADHD in School Children

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate the effects of acoustic and vestibular noise as possible non-medication treatments for children and adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The study builds on previous findings that auditory noise can improve cognitive performance in inattentive children, including those diagnosed with ADHD, sometimes matching or exceeding the benefits of medication. It also explores vestibular stimulation's potential to enhance brain activity related to spatial orientation and learning. The study is conducted by Lund University and involves both children diagnosed with ADHD and typically developing controls. Participants will be divided into groups receiving different interventions: active medication, active vestibular noise stimulation, placebo medication with sham stimulation, or sham stimulation alone. The ADHD group will undergo testing on three separate occasions spaced 2-3 weeks apart, each involving different combinations of medication and stimulation in a double-blind, randomized crossover design. Control children will be tested twice under active or sham stimulation without medication. The study also includes an evaluation of an iPhone auditory noise application to assess its benefit in a typical school setting. During the study, participants will complete various cognitive and motor tests including episodic memory (Auditory Verbal Learning Test), visuo-spatial working memory (Spanboard task), motor-neurological assessments, and finger tapping tasks. The iPhone application will be assessed by students, teachers, and parents over about five months. Researchers will measure performance changes related to these interventions, monitor safety, and gather feedback on the app's use in everyday school environments.

Acoustic and Vestibular Noise as Possible Non-pharmacological Treatment of ADHD in School Children