Do Neurodivergent people listen to music differently? (2023)

Do autistic people listen to music differently?

Autistic listener's felt responses to music is (statistically) normal. Of course there are a diversity of autism phenomena. But in what are called “high-functioning” cases of autism, the musical response, as measured by GSR, was not significantly different from the non-autistic control group.

This type of audio creates the sensation that sounds are moving around you in space. While 8D audio can be stimulating to anyone, TikTokers are claiming that neurodivergent folks may experience it differently than people with neurotypical brains.

Recently I have been doing a bit of research into music therapy for neurodivergent folx. Something that caught my attention was a type of music called panning music.

And it is also true that it is completely normal to experience music in different ways. There are plenty of neurotypicals who don' like music, and plenty of them who wouldn't be able to live without it. But, as a schizoid, music makes a great difference for me.

Children with ASD are motivated to engage in music activities and it can be a preferred medium to operate within. They thrive within structure and music fulfills this need for structure and routine. First of all, children with ASD seem to enjoy musical experiences because they are often “good at it”.

The results of 53 parent-reported questionnaires show that classical music (see also Bhatara & Quintin, 2013) and pop-rock are preferred genres in ASD compared to other genres (e.g., jazz or folk).

Many people with neurological conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, dyspraxia, and dyslexia have extraordinary skills, including in pattern recognition, memory, and mathematics. But the neurodiverse population remains largely untapped.

Neurodivergent people report a variety of benefits from listening to 8D audio, including: Relaxation. Stress relief. Positive mood.

What neurodiversity does Billie Eilish have?

Eilish, who won Record of the Year in 2020 and 2021, revealed four years ago that she was diagnosed as a child with Tourette Syndrome, writing on Instagram, “My Tourettes makes easy things a lot harder. Certain things increase and/or trigger the intensity of my tics, but it's something I grew up with and I'm used to.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) makes it difficult to concentrate. People with ADHD have said 8D audio helps them focus, especially if they're working on tasks for a longer amount of time.

Neurodivergent people are more likely to have sensory difficulties. But anyone, neurodivergent and neurotypical people alike, can have difficulties with their sensory system.

Dr. Lombardo explains, “because many people with ADHD have trouble keeping track of time and duration, listening to music may help them improve their performance in these areas. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, can be increased by listening to music you appreciate.

Some people with autism have an exceptional talent for music, math, art or language.

They are repetitive, stereotyped movements of the whole body (rocking, spinning) or just one part of it (flapping hands, snapping fingers, spinning objects).

A study done in 2020 showed that music seemed to improve focus and attentiveness in children diagnosed with ADHD. Music therapy has been effective for people with ADHD because they crave the type of structure that music provides.

The Music and Communication Connection

Music intervention has been shown to improve social interactions in children with autism, and neuroimaging studies in healthy controls have shown that circuits important for emotion and memory processing are engaged during music listening.

Some say that the music is “bouncing around” inside of their heads. Others say 8D audio makes them feel as if they are surrounded by sound as if they're inside a music venue. People with ADHD, ASD, and others with neurodivergence find 8D audio to be particularly riveting, myself included.

People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention. It is important to note that some people without ASD might also have some of these symptoms.

What famous composer had autism?

Mozart himself may have been autistic. Biographical accounts of Mozart's life, including the Oscar-winning film, Amadeus⁴, have described the composer's eccentric characteristics. For instance, Mozart reportedly demonstrated repetitive hand motions and facial expressions.

Driven by both genetic and environmental factors, an estimated 15-20 percent of the world's population exhibits some form of neurodivergence.

For many neurodivergent people, the lack of a diagnosis does not protect them from the stigma of being different. When a diagnosis is absent the individual who can't read well, moves differently, or has special requirements is still noticed by colleagues.

Giftedness is a form of neurodiversity; the pathways leading to it are enormously variable, and so are children's resulting learning needs.

One phrase that is often associated with ASD is “high-functioning,” which refers to an individual who experiences the social and emotional difficulties and stereotyped behaviors or interests that are associated with autism, but does not have any significant delay in intellectual or verbal development.

Neurotypicals learn things more quickly in the ways that information is currently typically presented, whereas neurodiverse people may find it harder to process facts presented in this form. The latter may need more training time or different approaches because their brains are wired differently.

Those who identify as neurodivergent may have some difficulty with certain skills and abilities. These will vary from person to person and may include difficulty maintaining eye contact, not being able to complete a task in one sitting, as well as finding it hard to engage in group activities.

But the definition has since expanded to include other conditions in advocacy movements and social justice circles. “With this definition, anxiety can be considered a form of neurodivergence, although it may not be as commonly recognized as ADHD, autism, or trauma,” she says.

Listening to EDM gives ADHD patients energy, at the same time allowing them to shut out everything else and concentrating fully on the music. Moving with the beats and positively connecting to others who enjoy the same music can be a great source of healing.

Neurodivergent individuals are at greater risk for experiencing stress and trauma, which can also influence neurodevelopment. They are more likely to experience emotional neglect, physical and sexual abuse, and bullying.

Can neurodivergent people dance?

Many neurodivergent people have found the welcoming nature of much of dance music conducive to their 'fitting in' or 'being themselves' in a way that other parts of society aren't. Many people with ADD/ADHD crave excitement, novelty and stimulation, which they can easily find in club culture.

They include Bill Gates, Emily Dickinson, Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, Whoopi Goldberg, Michelangelo and Charles Darwin. There are 150+ famous people with autism alone.

When Letterman asked if he could ask her more about it, she said, "Sure ... I have Tourette syndrome." She went on to say, "I'm very happy to talk about it. I actually really love answering questions about it, because it's very, very interesting, and I am incredibly confused by it, and I don't get it."

Since ADHD often involves difficulty with tracking timing and duration, listening to music might help improve performance in these areas. Listening to music you enjoy can also increase dopamine, a neurotransmitter. Certain ADHD symptoms may be linked to lower dopamine levels.

A hyperfixation, or special interest is a highly intense interest in a subject, usually associated with autism and ADHD specifically. It can be anything: a fictional universe, a celebrity, a genre of music, a historical period.

MUSIC FIRES UP SYNAPSES.

Research shows that pleasurable music increases dopamine levels in the brain. This neurotransmitter — responsible for regulating attention, working memory, and motivation — is in low supply in ADHD brains.

Neurodivergent people tend to have high affective empathy and low cognitive empathy. The inverse is true for neurotypicals. (Some people have a high degree of both types of empathy, because they have practiced and learned the type that does not come as naturally to them.)

A hidden disability is a disability that may not be immediately visible by looking at or talking to someone. It can include, for example, neurodiversity, a mental health condition as well as mobility, sensory loss or a physical disability that causes pain, fatigue or impacts on movement.

Everybody has a threshold for how much input they can handle, and anyone can experience overstimulation — ADHD or not.

What is Stimming ADHD?

Self-stimulatory behavior, often called “stimming,” is when a child or adult repeats specific movements or sounds as a way to self-soothe or remain engaged in a situation, often referred to as “fidget to focus.” Many people assume that only individuals with autism engage in self-stimulatory behaviors.

Do people with ADHD listen to songs on a loop? Not necessarily. Listening to songs on repeat is more about personal preference and less about neurotype.

Autistic listener's felt responses to music is (statistically) normal. Of course there are a diversity of autism phenomena. But in what are called “high-functioning” cases of autism, the musical response, as measured by GSR, was not significantly different from the non-autistic control group.

In 2009, British researchers found that 20 percent of the 72 teens with autism they studied had a superior ability to distinguish pitch. Other studies found superior pitch to be more widespread in ASD.

In fact, of autistic savants and savants in general, having extraordinary musical talent is one of the most common advantages. A new study published in the journal Cognition, suggests a reason for it. Those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have superior hearing.

Autism affects how people process sensory information (such as sight and sound), which can make everyday tasks more difficult. In a noisy environment, many autistic people say it is difficult to hear what's being said. Background noises can create overwhelming listening difficulties.

The scientists found that children with autism had stronger autonomic reactions than typically-developing children when they heard noises – but also when they didn't. The stronger physiological response in ASD may trigger greater behavioral responses to sound, they concluded.

In a recent study of musical abilities, Dr. Stanutz found that children with autism performed better than typically developing children in musical games that tested their pitch discrimination and music memory.

A study done in 2020 showed that music seemed to improve focus and attentiveness in children diagnosed with ADHD. Music therapy has been effective for people with ADHD because they crave the type of structure that music provides.

Inability to read or respond to emotion – Feedback is important to the development of communication mechanisms, both verbal and non-verbal; because autistic children are unable to read emotional affect in others, they do not have the full range of perception to gauge and adjust their own communication skills.

How do you talk to a neurotypical?

Autistic people may act in a different way to other people

find it hard to understand how other people think or feel. find things like bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable. get anxious or upset about unfamiliar situations and social events. take longer to understand information.

A significant number of people with Asperger's Syndrome have been perceived to display either an over-sensitivity or an under-sensitivity to sensory stimuli. This includes all, or a combination of: touch, taste, smell, sound, sight and movement, as well as possible problems with motor co-ordination.

Our Mendability therapy coaches recommend playing classical music in the room if a child with autism is getting anxious or agitated.

Vocal stimming, also known as auditory stimming, is self-stimulatory behaviour that involves the use of the mouth, lips and vocal cords. It can also involve the use of ears.