Personalised immersive soundscapes supporting children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder affecting a substantial number of children worldwide, which often extends into adulthood. This thesis explores the potential of using personalised, immersive soundscapes to improve cognitive and behavioural manifestations in children with ADHD. By combining advanced audio technologies and cognitive psychology, this research introduces a novel approach to ADHD intervention strategies.

The research centres on four sound conditions across two key studies to understand soundscapes' influence on children with ADHD. Initial exploration involved pink noise, leading to personalised soundscapes presented in mono and binaural formats and concluding with the integration of auditory indicators as interactive, immersive soundscapes.

Findings reveal that pink noise resulted in modest yet significant enhancements in impulsivity control within ADHD participants.

The introduction of personalised soundscapes, mirroring the sonic characteristics of pink noise, revealed a beneficial sonic environment. This was evident through enhanced cognitive functions, particularly in improved attention, as reflected in improved consistency and variability of Hit Response Times (HRT), along with refined behavioural outcomes, notably a reduction in overall hand movement, indicating controlled hyperactivity.

Binaural sound reproduction significantly influenced cognitive and behavioural control in ADHD participants, as evidenced by improved attention and impulsivity metrics. Enhancements in detectability \textit{d'} metrics, while reduced commission errors suggested improved impulse control. However, mixed interactions in the between-group comparison, particularly with the variability of HRT and preservation errors, highlighted a complex relationship between binaural audio and ADHD cognitive processes. Notably, binaural audio outperformed mono reproduction, especially in the control group, demonstrating its broader applicability.

The integration of auditory cues within the soundscape content maintained the trend of controlled hyperactivity, evidenced by reduced hand movement. However, a simultaneous increase in head movement, coupled with improved impulsive control, may suggest a potential enhancement of alertness. While these cues offered clear benefits, they occasionally manifested as distractions, a phenomenon more pronounced within the control group. Nevertheless, the overall advantage for the young ADHD population was significant, thus raising interesting questions for future research.

Collectively, the findings of these studies highlight the promising potential of personalised and immersive soundscapes as a non-invasive, supportive tool for children with ADHD, while underscoring the need for careful design to balance engagement and potential distraction. This work also opens new avenues for further exploration in the field of psychoacoustic research for neurodevelopmental disorders.