ADHD and Auditory Processing

ADHD and Auditory Processing: “I Heard You… But My Brain Hasn’t Caught Up Yet” Have you ever said “What?” when someone speaks to you, only to realise what they said before they’ve even had a chance to repeat themselves? Or perhaps you can hear someone talking perfectly well, but when there’s a television playing, music in the background or several conversations happening at once, following their words suddenly becomes much harder. For some people with ADHD, difficulties processing spoken information can be a familiar part of everyday life. Hearing and processing aren't the same thing Auditory processing is about what the brain does with the sounds we hear. Someone may be able to hear a person's voice clearly, but their brain can take a little longer to organise, interpret and respond to the information. With ADHD, difficulties with attention, working memory and filtering distractions can make listening particularly challenging. You might hear the words, but your brain hasn't quite made sense of them yet. That can lead to the classic: “What did you say?” …followed two seconds later by: “Oh! Never mind, I got it.” What might this look like with ADHD? You may recognise experiences such as: - Struggling to follow conversations when there is background noise - Finding it difficult when several people are speaking at once - Frequently asking people to repeat themselves - Losing track halfway through verbal instructions - Forgetting the first instruction while someone is still giving you the second or third - Preferring information to be written down - Using subtitles even though you can hear the television - Taking a few extra seconds to respond to a question - Becoming overwhelmed in busy, noisy environments - Appearing not to listen even though you are genuinely trying to These experiences can sometimes be misunderstood by other people. “You're not listening to me!” For someone with ADHD, being told they're “not listening” can be incredibly frustrating when they were actually putting a lot of effort into trying to listen. Imagine trying to follow someone's words while your brain is also processing the television, another conversation across the room, a dog barking outside and your own thoughts. Other people's brains may automatically push those sounds into the background. An ADHD brain can sometimes have a harder time deciding which information deserves its attention. That's why reducing distractions can make such a difference. Working memory plays a part too Working memory allows us to temporarily hold information in our minds while we use it. This can be challenging for people with ADHD. Someone might say: “Go upstairs, grab your charger, bring down the washing and remember to put the bathroom light off.” By the time you've reached the stairs, part of that information may already have disappeared. It doesn't necessarily mean you weren't paying attention. Your brain was being asked to hold, organise and act on several pieces of spoken information at once. What can help? Small changes can make spoken information much easier to process: - Give one instruction or piece of information at a time - Allow a few seconds for someone to respond - Reduce background noise where possible - Get the person's attention before giving important information - Follow important verbal information with a text, email or written note - Break longer instructions into smaller steps - Use subtitles or captions when helpful - Ask for information to be repeated or rephrased without feeling embarrassed about it Most importantly, recognise that needing information presented differently isn't a sign that someone isn't intelligent, interested or trying. ADHD or Auditory Processing Disorder? It's important not to assume that every auditory difficulty experienced by someone with ADHD is caused by ADHD. Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a separate condition involving difficulties with how the brain processes auditory information. Some of the experiences can overlap with difficulties associated with ADHD, but they aren't the same thing. If difficulties understanding speech or processing sounds are significant, persistent or affecting everyday life, it can be worth discussing them with an appropriate healthcare professional. A little understanding can make a big difference Sometimes a person with ADHD isn't ignoring you. They aren't deliberately forgetting what you've just told them. And they aren't necessarily “not listening.” Sometimes their brain simply needs a little more time, less competing information, or another way of receiving the message. So the next time someone says: “Sorry… what?” …and then answers you two seconds later… Their brain might simply have been catching up.