Effectiveness of Music Therapy on Sustained Attention and Selective Attention in Children with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy on sustained attention and selective attention in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population included all children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder who referred to psychological centers in Gorgan in the 2020 year. 30 people were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Measurement tools included the Stroop Color-Word Test (Mc Leod, 1996) and the Continuous Performance Test (Razold et al, 1956). The experimental group received 12 60-minute sessions of music therapy, but the control group did not receive any intervention. The results of univariate and multivariate analysis of covariance showed that music therapy is effective in improving sustained attention and selective attention in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Therefore, it can be concluded that music therapy through rhythmic stimulation has led to an increase in sustained attention, selective attention, and auditory sensitivity in children with attention deficit- hyperactivity disorder.