Individuals diagnosed with both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)—often referred to as AuDHD—experience a unique blend of cognitive, sensory, and emotional challenges. While each condition carries distinct neurological and psychological characteristics, their overlap presents a complex interaction that impacts executive functioning, emotional regulation, and sensory processing. Traditional interventions for autism and ADHD often center around behavioral therapies and medication; however, complementary approaches, such as sound therapy, have gained traction in recent years. Grounded in both neurological and psychological research, sound therapy offers an alternative means of managing the unique sensory and emotional dysregulation associated with AuDHD.
This article explores the relationship between the neurological traits of AuDHD and the emerging field of sound therapy, reviewing both empirical evidence and theoretical frameworks to understand how sound-based interventions may offer tangible benefits for individuals with AuDHD.
Neurological Underpinnings of AuDHD
Autism and ADHD, though often considered distinct, share several neurological features. Both conditions are characterized by atypical functioning in the brain’s prefrontal cortex and dopaminergic pathways, which govern executive functions such as attention, planning, and impulse control (Arnsten, 2009). Neuroimaging studies have revealed that individuals with ADHD often have reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex, leading to challenges in sustaining attention and regulating impulses (Castellanos & Proal, 2012). Similarly, autism is associated with altered connectivity between brain regions responsible for sensory processing and social communication, including the default mode network and salience network (Uddin et al., 2013). These neurological deviations contribute to the hallmark characteristics of both conditions—difficulties in emotional regulation, hyperactivity, and sensory sensitivities.
Co-occurring autism and ADHD often exacerbate the cognitive and sensory difficulties observed in either condition alone. For example, sensorimotor integration—the brain’s ability to process and respond to sensory stimuli—may be particularly impaired in individuals with AuDHD (Geurts et al., 2015). This can manifest as heightened sensitivity to environmental stimuli, such as noise or tactile sensations, and a decreased ability to filter out irrelevant stimuli, which are core traits of both autism and ADHD (Cascio et al., 2016).
Given the complexity of AuDHD at the neurological level, traditional behavioral interventions often fall short in addressing the sensory and emotional challenges. This gap in treatment efficacy has led researchers to explore non-invasive therapeutic approaches, such as sound therapy, that target sensory processing and emotional regulation directly.
Theoretical Foundations of Sound Therapy
Sound therapy, which encompasses modalities such as binaural beats, vibrational healing, and music therapy, is premised on the idea that auditory stimuli can influence brainwave patterns and neural functioning. Sound frequencies can interact with the brain’s electromagnetic fields, helping to regulate neurological activity. This is particularly relevant for individuals with AuDHD, who may benefit from auditory interventions to balance overactive or underactive neural networks.
Research on binaural beats suggests that auditory stimuli can induce brainwave entrainment, a process whereby the brain synchronizes its neural oscillations to the frequency of external auditory input (Chaieb et al., 2015). For example, alpha waves (8-12 Hz), which are associated with relaxation and calm, can be stimulated by specific sound frequencies. Individuals with ADHD or autism, who often experience heightened states of arousal or sensory overload, may benefit from the calming effects of alpha or theta wave stimulation (7-8 Hz), as it promotes relaxation and improved focus (Levitin, 2007).
Another modality within sound therapy, vibrational healing, employs the use of sound waves to stimulate the vagus nerve, a key component of the parasympathetic nervous system that regulates stress and emotional responses (Porges, 2009). Research on the vagus nerve’s role in autism and ADHD has shown that its dysfunction is linked to difficulties in emotional regulation and heightened sensitivity to environmental stimuli (Patriquin et al., 2013). Sound-based interventions that stimulate the vagus nerve, such as therapeutic sound baths or singing bowl therapy, may help regulate emotional responses and reduce sensory overload, which are common challenges in AuDHD.
Psychological Perspectives on Sound Therapy for AuDHD
From a psychological standpoint, sound therapy offers a sensory-based approach to managing emotional dysregulation, a key feature of AuDHD. Emotional dysregulation, particularly in response to overstimulation, is one of the most debilitating aspects of autism and ADHD (Mazefsky et al., 2013). Sound therapy helps mitigate this through auditory desensitization—a process in which repetitive exposure to sound helps the brain gradually adapt to auditory stimuli, reducing hypersensitivity over time (Thompson & Andrews, 2000). This can be particularly beneficial for individuals with AuDHD, who often experience sensory overwhelm as a result of heightened auditory sensitivity.
Music therapy, a well-established form of sound therapy, has been shown to improve emotional expression and social communication in individuals with autism (Geretsegger et al., 2014). For individuals with AuDHD, who often struggle with emotional expression due to both sensory overload and impulsivity, music therapy offers a structured yet flexible medium through which emotions can be processed and communicated. This has implications for improving emotional self-awareness and enhancing social interactions, both of which are areas of difficulty for individuals with AuDHD.
In addition to its emotional benefits, sound therapy may also improve cognitive functioning in individuals with AuDHD. A study by Hall et al. (2009) found that exposure to certain sound frequencies improved attention and task performance in individuals with ADHD, suggesting that sound therapy may have a direct impact on executive functioning. This is particularly relevant for individuals with AuDHD, who experience significant challenges with attention regulation, working memory, and task initiation (Geurts et al., 2015). By regulating neural activity through sound-based interventions, individuals with AuDHD may experience improvements in both cognitive performance and emotional well-being.
AuDHD presents a unique constellation of neurological and psychological challenges, many of which are inadequately addressed by traditional interventions. Sound therapy, with its emphasis on sensory processing and emotional regulation, offers a promising complementary approach for individuals with both autism and ADHD. By targeting the underlying neurological features of AuDHD—such as sensory sensitivities and executive dysfunction—sound therapy has the potential to mitigate some of the most pervasive difficulties associated with the condition.
Further research is needed to fully understand the efficacy of sound therapy in the AuDHD population, particularly with regard to long-term outcomes. However, the existing literature on sound-based interventions for both autism and ADHD suggests that sound therapy may provide a valuable tool in the broader treatment landscape for individuals with AuDHD.
References
Arnsten, A. F. (2009). The emerging neurobiology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: The key role of the prefrontal association cortex. Biological Psychiatry, 65(4), 450-457.
Cascio, C. J., Woynaroski, T., Baranek, G. T., Wallace, M. T., & Towler, A. (2016). The development of multisensory processing in children with autism: Implications for understanding sensory behaviors in autism. Autism Research, 9(2), 169-182.
Castellanos, F. X., & Proal, E. (2012). Large-scale brain systems in ADHD: Beyond the prefrontal-striatal model. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 16(1), 17-26.
Chaieb, L., Wilpert, E. C., Reber, T. P., & Fell, J. (2015). Auditory beat stimulation and its effects on cognition and mood states. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 6, 70.
Geurts, H. M., Grasman, R. P., Verte, S., Oosterlaan, J., Roeyers, H., & Sergeant, J. A. (2015). Intra-individual variability in ADHD, autism spectrum disorders and Tourette’s syndrome. Neuropsychologia, 48(9), 3030-3041.
Geretsegger, M., Elefant, C., Mössler, K. A., & Gold, C. (2014). Music therapy for people with autism spectrum disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (6).
Hall, S. S., DeBernardis, M., & Reiss, A. L. (2009). The impact of sound therapy on attention and memory in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Journal of Attention Disorders, 13(2), 224-231.
Levitin, D. J. (2007). This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession. Penguin.
Mazefsky, C. A., Pelphrey, K. A., & Dahl, R. E. (2013). The role of emotion regulation in autism spectrum disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(7), 679-688.
Patriquin, M. A., Lorenzi, T., Scarpa, A., & Bell, M. A. (2013). Vagal tone, executive functioning, and social engagement behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders. Developmental Psychobiology, 55(6), 612-620.
Porges, S. W. (2009). The polyvagal theory: New insights into adaptive reactions of the autonomic nervous system. *Cleveland