Having an ADHD (attention defecit hyperactive disorder) project in my Psyche class, I had to watch television in a very noisy enviroment for 15minutes, then a completely quiet enviroment (no sound on tv either) for 15 mins, then discuss it. The professor says, "If you were unable to concentrate in the noisy room, you better understand what a child who has ADHD hears in his or her own head. The constant noise occurs from their unfocused thoughts and it is quite distracting to them."

~Trying to read in a noisy environment was called "mission impossible" for me. I felt like I was on the edge of a cliff, and my hair was turning grey by the strand. I was overwhelmed; it was like nails screeching down a chalk board feeling. I walked away from the book over to my husband who was watching you tube videos, starred at the very loud television, and peered down the hall to the three boys dancing and singing to the top of their lungs. I wanted to go join the fun!
In the quiet environment, i.e. after bedtime (smile), I had an equally difficult time following the television show, although with less of the overwhelming feeling. I thought about how good the McDonald’s food looked, and Oh! I think I'm hungry! Onto how many calories, how bad that food is for you, I need to go the YMCA, quickly followed by my reminder to focus on the television because, at that time it, was a different commercial. The next commercial lead me to reminiscing about having my four children, and all the life that having children entitles for a week of school. (Not to mention the thoughts about this activity and my school work) I was quiet stimulated by this activity as well, loosing focus was not a possibility because I never focused, and could not sit still for the 15 minutes. I had to get up after the second or what I thought was the second commercial, check on the children, and get ready for a week of school.~

The project was a definite eye opener for me. You should try it sometimes, maybe you will see what children with ADHD are faced with too!