Knowing Symptoms And Treatment: ADHD And Forgetfulness
It can be common to experience occasional bouts of forgetfulness. For example, most of us can relate to misplacing the car keys or forgetting about an upcoming deadline. However, what if you experience such difficulty with your working memory that it impacts your ability to live a productive life?
Frequent bouts of forgetfulness can be a symptom of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, more commonly referred to as ADHD. When you frequently struggle to remember responsibilities and obligations, it can have a negative impact on your mental health. Those with ADHD and extreme forgetfulness may believe they cannot “trust their own brains,” and this can wreak havoc on their self-esteem and ability to thrive. Still, using coping skills like making lifestyle changes and utilizing a planner can be helpful. Working with a licensed therapist can also be beneficial for individuals with ADHD who struggle with forgetfulness and other symptoms.
What is ADHD?
ADHD stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, a neurological condition that typically affects the brain and nervous system. ADHD often impacts daily life and is frequently diagnosed during childhood, although it usually persists into a person’s adult years. In some cases, adult ADHD may go undiagnosed, especially if an individual displays more symptoms of inattentiveness than hyperactivity.
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms
Some symptoms of ADHD can include the following:
- Poor working memory
- Scattered thoughts
- An inability to focus
- Difficulty adhering to schedules, deadlines, and responsibilities
- Poor impulse control
- Restlessness and hyperactivity
As ADHD can have adverse effects on multiple aspects of a person’s life, it can be beneficial to speak to a licensed mental health professional if you experience symptoms of this disorder.
Examining ADHD and forgetfulness
Now that we’ve covered some of the hallmark symptoms of ADHD, it may be clear that ADHD and forgetfulness often go hand in hand.
Impact of ADHD on memory and concentration
The impact of ADHD on the brain has often been scientifically validated, with one study finding that those with ADHD usually experience “marked central executive working memory deficits” across the board. In other words, ADHD can significantly affect working memory, which typically involves processing, using, and remembering information.
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with memory and concentration
A person’s working memory usually enables them to work with information without losing track of what they’re doing, but individuals with ADHD often have trouble with this due to executive dysfunction.
Some examples of ADHD and forgetfulness may include the following:
- Losing items you had in your possession only moments earlier
- Difficulty keeping up with appointments and obligations
- Forgetting you were in the middle of a task after getting distracted
- Difficulty retaining information you were just told
Addressing the stigma against Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADHD and its association with forgetfulness are often discussed in a flippant manner. If you use social media, you may have seen memes joking about ADHD symptoms, for instance. While humor can be a great coping strategy for those with mental health conditions, the debilitating effects and overall severity of ADHD’s impact on people’s lives may be downplayed or dismissed.
Lack of treatment contributing to worsening symptoms
People with ADHD often discredit symptoms like forgetfulness and blame themselves and their own shortcomings. Children with symptoms of ADHD are frequently branded as troublemakers and classroom disruptors by parents, teachers, and peers. A lack of diagnosis usually means a lack of treatment, and symptoms may worsen as a result.
ADHD stigma can be quite real. Because ADHD often coexists with other mood disorders and behavioral concerns, those with ADHD may experience discrimination and challenges with socializing and forming relationships. The stigma surrounding ADHD can even lead to the condition being underdiagnosed.
Untreated ADHD is linked to problems with cognitive function
In fact, an estimated 2.5% to 4.4% of adults may meet the criteria for ADHD, but less than 20% of adults with ADHD may receive an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Untreated ADHD often leads to a host of difficulties for those with the condition, such as substance misuse, coexisting mood and behavioral disorders, and a decreased lifespan. It can be vital to fight the stigma associated with ADHD to help more people get the diagnosis and treatment they deserve.
Coping with ADHD forgetfulness
Those experiencing ADHD and forgetfulness might often feel confused, frustrated, and isolated. It can wreak havoc on your mental health to constantly sense that you’re fighting an uphill battle against your own brain. However, you are not alone, and there can be many ways for those with ADHD to cope with forgetfulness.
Coping strategies for ADHD forgetfulness
- Improving sleep quality
- Choosing nutrient-rich foods to eat each day
- Getting regular exercise
- Avoiding multitasking and focusing on one task at a time
- Investing in and using an ADHD planner
- Picking a routine and sticking to it
- Stretching memory capacity with intellectually stimulating activities
How therapy, medication, and treatment can help with ADHD forgetfulness
Those with ADHD can often benefit from professional insight and guidance, even if they’re already employing the coping strategies discussed above. Consulting a professional can help you look at symptoms from a new perspective and introduce you to new ways to manage symptoms.
Benefits of online therapy
Connecting with a licensed professional through an online therapy platform can be a great resource for those with ADHD. Considering the potential difficulties those with ADHD may have adhering to strict schedules and keeping appointments, online therapy can be a fantastic tool that provides flexibility and accessibility. It can empower individuals to attend sessions from their homes at times that fit into their existing routines. Partnering medication with therapy will depend on the licensed professional you work with.
Effectiveness of online therapy
A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on the efficacy of online therapy for ADHD treatment found that it could effectively treat ADHD, particularly symptoms like attention deficit and social function.
Takeaway
What are the 5 levels of ADHD?
As clinical counselor William Pedegrini writes in a blog post, there are five stages a person diagnosed with ADHD often goes through. These are excitement/relief, investigation, frustration, acceptance, and application.
Can ADHD get worse with age?
ADHD does not get worse with age. However, if it is left untreated, the side effects of ADHD can lead to anxiety, depression, and problems with personal and work relationships.
How does ADHD impact memory?
Memory challenges are a common symptom for people with ADHD. Brain differences in people with ADHD affect memory in regard to working memory deficits. This means that people with ADHD often have memory difficulties with short-term memory, but their long-term memory isn’t affected. Overall, memory and executive function are typically both affected by ADHD.
Why do ADHD people forget things?
People with ADHD forget things for a few reasons. For one, they can be easily distractible. They can also have problems with executive function, which can make them disorganized. They may also experience working memory issues, as dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex can lead to problems with ADHD working memory, making it difficult to hold on to ideas or follow ideas in the short term.
What can untreated ADHD lead to?
ADHD affects people differently because there are ADHD subtype differences, but overall, people with ADHD are likely to experience at least some of the following symptoms because of differences in brain function. They may experience working memory impairments, poor focus, trouble focusing on complex tasks, difficulty waiting, being easily distracted, making careless mistakes, or daytime drowsiness, or they may lose track of time or belongings. For children and young adults, having ADHD can be a risk factor for a learning disorder. If you suspect ADHD, it is important to seek professional help, and if you receive an ADHD diagnosis, seek proper treatment. A therapist who has ADHD experience can support someone with alleviating ADHD symptoms with cognitive behavioral therapy. A doctor or psychiatrist can prescribe ADHD medication, which is a stimulant medication. If you are seeking services for a young person, you can contact child or adolescent psychiatry. Research in behavioral neuroscience investigating how ADHD affects memory leads scientists to believe that ADHD is a complex condition involving various factors. The National Institute of Mental Health offers a wealth of information about ADHD.
Is forgetfulness a side effect of ADHD?
Yes, forgetfulness can be a side effect of ADHD, and it can create problems for people with following through on daily tasks. A phenomenon called ADHD brain fog makes it difficult for people to focus or think clearly. Such issues can typically be addressed with ADHD medications and therapy.
Do people with ADHD have higher IQs?
People with ADHD do not necessarily have higher IQs than people in the rest of the population. People with and without ADHD are found to have IQs that range over a wide spectrum. Keep in mind that IQ testing is believed by many to be culturally biased, and in any case, it is only one measure of intelligence.
Do people with ADHD think faster?
People who have ADHD don’t necessarily think faster than people who don’t have ADHD. However, people with ADHD can be flexible, resourceful, impulsive and creative, so it can appear that they are thinking more quickly, especially when in a situation where they need to think on their feet or solve a problem.
Does ADHD lead to bad memory?
Memory issues are among the many symptoms of ADHD, but ADHD related memory issues typically involve short-term rather than long term memory performance. Managing ADHD and attention disorders, along with memory issues involved, can be done through good sleep hygiene, balanced diet, memory exercises, working memory training, and mnemonic devices. Therapy and medication can also play an important role in managing ADHD and ADHD memory loss.
Can untreated ADHD lead to dementia?
Yes, untreated ADHD has been shown to increase the possibility of developing dementia. An article in The Washington Post cites studies that show that untreated ADHD may increase the risk of dementia. Aging neuroscience shows that dementia is often marked by a decrease in executive functions, a decrease in ability to perform cognitive tasks, and a decrease in a person's ability to recall events. A number of different ADHD-related factors may contribute to dementia and memory problems, such as changes in brain functions, sleep deprivation, and side effects of medications.
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