White Noise for Staying On Task For adults with ADHD, distractions can make staying on task a more significant challenge than usual. If you have trouble shutting out the world when you need to study, write, paint, spark creativity, sleep, or get down to business at work, this free service is perfect for your needs. Often someone who has ADHD can think better and stay on task longer if there is some white noise in her surroundings—maybe softly playing music, a fan in the corner, or the hum from an overhead air vent. So far, researchers have found benefits for those with inattention but not impulsivity, but the benefits of white noise don’t continue when it is no longer present. In the real world, people cannot control the sounds that surround them throughout the day. Although researchers are exploring whether white noise may provide complementary support for some people with inattentive ADHD, the evidence is inconclusive. Research on white noise for inattentive ADHD Most research on white noise has focused on children still in elementary or middle school; however, the results seem to be applicable also to teens and adults. For adults working from home at this time, having white noise available could be beneficial when it comes to staying on task.