Brain Library
Do You Ever...?
Do you ever know you learned something, but when you need it, it’s just… gone? Or forget multi-step instructions almost immediately?
That is a working memory issue.
What is it?
Working memory is like a mental whiteboard. It holds information while you use it, such as:
- Remembering a phone number long enough to dial it.
- Keeping multi-step instructions in mind.
- Holding numbers while doing math.
In ADHD, this mental whiteboard often wipes itself quickly.
Why does this happen?
ADHD can make it harder to:
- Hold several pieces of information at once.
- Keep instructions in mind while doing something else.
- Retrieve stored information on demand.
What can I do?
Take information out of your head and put it in the world.
Use checklists, planners, sticky notes, and phone reminders.
Ask for one step at a time.
Instead of “Do these four things,” ask adults to give steps one by one or write them down.
Use visuals and color.
Color-coded notebooks, icons, and diagrams help your brain remember better than long text.
Repeat and teach.
Say instructions back in your own words. If you can explain it to someone else, it sticks better.
Fun Fact!
For individuals with ADHD, working memory difficulties mean they often struggle not with knowing what to do, but with doing what they know. This “performance disorder” aspect means a person might have the long-term knowledge and ability to complete a task, but struggles to hold and manipulate the multiple steps and details in their mind in real-time to execute it successfully.
