A meta-analysis looked at whether white noise or pink noise helps young people with ADHD or high levels of attention problems do better on attention and task-performance tests. It combined 13 randomized studies with 335 children and college-age young adults who had ADHD or elevated ADHD symptoms. Most of the studies used white noise. Only one used pink noise, and none tested brown noise. A safety note that belongs with this finding: the studies did not consistently report how loud the noise was, safe levels for sustained listening are unknown, and prolonged exposure could risk hearing damage.
The reviewers found a small benefit for the ADHD group (g = 0.249). The studies agreed closely with each other, and the result was very unlikely to be chance. A separate look at 11 comparison groups without ADHD, also totaling 335 people, found a small effect in the opposite direction, so noise slightly hurt their performance (g = -0.212). The authors rated their confidence in these results as moderate.
The study has real limits. People knew they were hearing the noise, so a placebo-style effect cannot be ruled out. The noise was played only for a few minutes at a time, and the volume was not always reported. Safe volume levels for regular use are not known. The authors say more high-quality studies are needed before any clinical advice can be drawn.
Source: Nigg J, Bruton A, Kozlowski M, et al.. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Do White Noise or Pink Noise Help With Task Performance in Youth With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or With Elevated Attention Problems?. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (2024). doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2023.12.014