The Influence and Effects of Colour on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Children

Introduction

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent childhood chronic condition with various implications on an individual’s behavior, impulsiveness, and self-control. Although ADHD is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder, it is not a disability as individuals can adopt unique management approaches to address the implications of condition and avoid negative outcomes. Over the years, scientists have developed several solutions to address issues associated with ADHD and its effects in children, particularly in educational settings. However, non-pharmacological solutions prove to be more effective and reliable in managing various mental conditions with high success levels. In particular, color therapy has gained ground over other solution used to manage ADHD because it adopts a naturalistic approach that is easier to incorporate into a child’s routine. Therefore, the following essay discusses the influence and effects of color on children diagnosed with ADHD and its effectiveness in adjusting these children’s attention to help them get along with their peers.

What is Color Therapy?

Color therapy, color psychology, or chromo therapy is a contemporary non-invasive and non-therapeutic approach recommended for managing the effects of mental health conditions like ADHD. Chromo therapy generally uses colour and light to treat mental health conditions on the basis that colors have an inherently positive and some negative impacts on various parts of the body. Color therapists propose that colors can help mend and reconnect neurotransmitter pathways in the brain and thus, promote healing as long as an individual is exposed to the right combination of colors. That being said, when a child with ADHD is exposed to the correct combination of colors, they can find certain tasks easier to accomplish, which enhances their engagement and gives them joy in learning. Color therapy is a practice that has existed for centuries as its roots can be traced back to Ancient Egypt and China, where healers put people in rooms made out of coloured glass to tap into their therapeutic benefits. Nevertheless, the approach is yet to be accepted as a standard form of therapy in Western medicine due to limited research pertaining to the mode of action and healing properties.