Communication in women with ADHD can be difficult due to you are easily distracted by their environment and their own thoughts and feelings, listening to others can be a challenging. This is true in all kinds of settings, from one-on-one conversations to classroom lectures to work meetings. Another way to look at this is the executive function in our brains acts like the ‘manager’ in coordinating our thoughts, actions and ability to plan. It is responsible for sorting through all the complex information we encounter, from paying attention to the right voice in a classroom to organizing responses in the midst of a rapidly-paced discussion. When executive function is impaired, as with ADHD, it can have consequences for listening. How does this show up? When you are a women with ADHD, it can feel like the disorder hijacks your conversations. For example, you interrupt people without thinking about it. Or you don’t pay close attention and miss important details, like instructions your boss is giving you or where you’re supposed to meet friends. This can harm personal and work relationships. Here are some excellent suggestions for overcoming the most common listening problems associated with ADHD.
Focus on Listening Than Talking– Ask questions frequently to let the other person have their say, too. Silently repeat what’s said to you to keep your focus on listening rather than talking.
Become aware of when you interrupt– You may interrupt because you’re afraid you’ll forget to say something important. Train yourself to become aware of how often you interrupt, mentally rehearse not interrupting, and apologize when you do interrupt someone.
Organizing your thoughts- Try to organize your thoughts, but If the right words don’t come to you, get back to the person later. If you’re not sure they understood what you said, ask them to repeat back what they heard. This will help avoid misunderstandings.
Focusing on the discussion – Make eye contact with the person you are talking to. This can keep you focused on the discussion and help you pick up on the nonverbal communication cues like facial expressions. Where possible, attempt to have conversations in quiet places that are free of distractions.