I used to envy those that could listen to music and concentrate. I can never do it- so I can't look cool. Please tell me your experience.

I thought since being on my meds, this would be cured, but...nope. I wish I could be cool

Depends. Sometimes, some music helps me concentrate. Other times, it drives me batty and I can't focus on anything but the music.

I have a hard time concentrating in silence, other little outside noises distract me like the refridgerator, cars driving by, the wind, etc.

i'm having a *hard* time voting on this one!
:)

i *"love"* music - always have, and always will...
in my apartment, there's almost always music, and so i haven't really thought about whether or not my (in)ability to concentrate is affected by music in any way, be it positively or negatively...
i think i'll have to do some serious research into this - i'll reveal the results later this week!
:D

I cant concentrate with music on with or without my meds the only time I really like to listen to music is when I am driving but even the it drives me crazy sometimes

I am on meds and I have to have music to keep me together. I've always had to have something playing no matter what I'm doing because complete silence makes me batty! These days it's usually a cartoon in the background because of the kids, but when I'm alone, it's one CDs from the massive collection I've somehow amassed over the years. I even have to have white noise while I'm sleeping.

Julie

I cannot concentrate well with music for most tasks. I'm not on meds. If there is talking on the radio, I cannot carry on a conversation. This is really anoying to me and I don't have a lot of other severe ADD traits like this so it is curious. I appreciate music very passionately when I'm in the mood and usually prefer to concentrate fully on the music, just sitting and listening. I sometimes go months without listening to music in the house.

I have to have something that kicks in my multi-tasking skills...without music I really can't function well. Depending on my mood and what I'm doing dictates what I listen to. Right now, to keep my spirits high, I'm hooked into Launchcast Radio...Summertime. lol..(Grease...Summernights)

Bipolar meds have done NOTHING to change how I function with music. Have YET to go on ADHD meds...I'll see what happens then.

I am not on meds but do find music as a buffer between me and simple distractions.

I use loud music such as oldies, rock and roll and rap when cleaning.

Studying I listen to Christian, country or soul

When I'm in a really good mood and just need the buffer I listen to Christmas carols...Christmas carols in July you can't beat that.

When I"m sad I listen to really naughty songs my husband has that make me giggle and my kids stare since I have to listen to them with my headphones.

I can live without tv but never ever without music...if there is no music playing I'll hum or sing to myself.

I find that music actually helps me concentrate. There are always multiple processes; each competing for memory and processor time. Normally there is a dominate thread that I am trying to dedicate the most resources to but the background processes are still eating resources and destracting me. Very often these are creative thoughts that require such stimuli.

Music seems to provide a resource friendly way to manage these background thoughts by giving them something to concentrate on allowing me to manage the dominate factor of my attention better. Quite often I'm able to hyperfocus once everything falls in line and I don't notice that I've either listen to the same song 40 times on repeat or the music has reach the end and stopped.

On the flipside, if I don't have something to eat up those little background processes, I'm all over the place. It's really quite interesting. It's almost as if I have 1 main operating system with 4 or 5 others sitting in the background running independantly of the primary OS. They do this despite running on the same hardware which is what seems to cause me to spin in all different directions unless I give them something to do.

Can't concentrate with music whether on meds or not.

But I love music.

hmmmm sometimes I can sometimes I can't
If I am doing something physical like cleaning house or working out, I need music to keep me going...
But if I am studying or doing stuff on puter, need quiet usually.

I'm one of those doots who has to turn off radio in car when trying to find where I am going, etc. LOL

OMG thats so funny, I always have to turn down the music when I'm trying to get somewhere!! I thought I was the only one. Everyone makes fun of me.

Yep, agreed with all that. I much prefer to listen to talk/news in the car (usually). If I'm talking to a passenger, I'll miss my turns. I always crave music for house cleaning.

hmmmm sometimes I can sometimes I can't
If I am doing something physical like cleaning house or working out, I need music to keep me going...
But if I am studying or doing stuff on puter, need quiet usually.

I'm one of those doots who has to turn off radio in car when trying to find where I am going, etc. LOL

well, after a week of careful observation, i have come to the conclusion that "there's *got* to be music!!!"

music makes my mood brighter, and it seems to work the same way on my concentration iq too!

:D

Music is my life. All the time I listen to music. I can't think of a time during the day when I don't listen to music. I never watch tv anymore (unless watching a movie with friends) so music is my source of entertainment. Music just inproves my mood. And playing music too, I love it.

The only problem I have is that i don't have enough cds.

Music is such a mood setter for me. Especially at work, if there's music playing it helps me keep ONLY two thoughts in my head at a time.
I swear the more I'm reading on this forum the more I'm sure I'm ADHD.

Are there any folks out there who managed on their own without Drs and meds?

None of the above actually....I have to turn off music to read or to even talk on the phone,...it has to be quiet...that even w/ meds. Or if I have music on....I don't even notice that it's playing.

I manage my ADHD without doctors or meds and I really only have bad days that end in Y lmbo. j/k No, I really don't think I manage that badly; but, it is a challenge to find ways to work it to my advantage.

Heh heh, nuts, did you intend this to go in another thread?
"What effect does music have your..."

I manage my ADHD without doctors or meds and I really only have bad days that end in Y lmbo. j/k No, I really don't think I manage that badly; but, it is a challenge to find ways to work it to my advantage.

I always have music playing. When I am cleaning or doing something around the house, I play rock (Def Leppard, Metallica, Scorpions) and when I am doing something that requires more concentration, like studying or reading, I play classical. Driving, it depends on my mood.