Marla Cummins

ADHD Coach and Productivity Consultant

How ADHD Adults Who Process Slowly Still Reach Their Goals

by

DESCRIPTION:

Processing slowly whether it’s in conversation or reading is a common challenge for ADHD adults. While it’s not related to your intelligence, it could be related to your ADHD. Hear about the possible connections between processing speed and ADHD as well as the workarounds you can use to still reach your goals.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Processing speed is about accuracy and consistency, as well as the rate at which you process information.
  • The rate at which you process information is not about your intelligence.
  • There are strategies you can use to process information accurately and consistently, though perhaps not at the speed you’d like.

TRANSCRIPT:

00:00:

You’re reading or listening in a meeting or in a one-on-one conversation. Maybe you’re not following the thread of the conversation, or maybe you understand what you’re reading or hearing, but are having a hard time synthesizing the information. Unfortunately, you might even decide in those moments that you must not be that intelligent.

You’ve tuned into Scattered, Focused, Done – Reimagining Productivity with ADHD, a podcast for ADHD, adults, like you, who want to learn how to adopt the best strategies, tools, and skills to be able to get your essential work done in a way that works with the way your brain is wired. I’m Marla Cummins, and I’m glad you decided to join me today on this journey to reimagining productivity with ADHD. So you can get what is important to you done without trying to do it like everyone else.

01:05

In this episode, I’ll give you an overview of the possible connections between ADHD and slow processing speed, as well as suggest a few ways you could address this challenge. Before beginning it’s important to note that if you have slow processing speed, there could of course be other causes than just your ADHD. So, if you have concerns about your processing speed and would like to know more about your own flavor, so to speak, testing with a psychologist can help you learn more about what’s going on for you.

But my goal in this podcast, though, is to help you understand a bit more about the relationship between your ADHD and processing speed, as well as share a few strategies you could use to manage these challenges so that it doesn’t get in the way of reaching your goals.

02:03

So, let’s start by getting a lay of the land and defining processing speed. You might think it’s just how fast you think. Pace is certainly part of it, but it’s also about how accurately and consistently you can first perceive the information, whether it’s auditory or visual reading that needs to be acted upon, then make sense of the information, and third internally formulate a response and take whatever action you think is appropriate here.

Here’s where it can get even trickier for ADHD adults. Because not only do you need to absorb the new information. But you also need to retrieve related information from memory that could help you inform whatever action you want to take in that moment. But, you know, ADHD adults tend to be a little, a historical, and, specifically, when it comes to this challenge with remembering related information. So not being able to quickly make connections between past related information and the current task can certainly affect your processing speed.

But the real critical piece that I want to make sure you understand is that it’s not that you can’t process the information and formulate the response you want and then be able to act in the way you want. It’s just that it may take you more time than you’d like. If you have slow processing speed. And it’s definitely not because of your intelligence.

03:42

So, let’s look at how your ADHD may be impacting how fast, accurately and consistently you process information. One reason you may have slow processing speed, as it relates to your ADHD, is you simply have a hard time activating, getting started. Whether it’s engaging in a one-on-one conversation, a meeting or reading material, you’re just not ready to act and respond to the stimuli, whether visual or auditory. Another reason you may process slowly is because you’re having difficulty focusing or sustaining your attention to the task. This could be either because you’re distracted by something else, or maybe it’s because you can’t focus you end up being distracted by something else. There goes the fly. No surprise there, right? So you’re just not taking in the information.

04:44

Another reason you may process slower than you’d like is because of working memory challenges. You know your working memory capacity is less than your neurotypical peers. And this means you may not be able to hold all the necessary information in that moment in order to manipulate and respond.

You know, it’s also possible that when you find a task or interaction, particularly difficult, you may get easily frustrated or angry because of your ADHD challenges with self-regulation. And, of course, this makes it hard for you to process the information effectively. Not only may you end up processing slowly, but if your emotions really get the best of you, you may just freeze and find you can’t process at all.

The bottom line is just because you think fast and have more energy maybe than your neurotypical peers, because of your ADHD brain, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you process information efficiently, which affects processing speed.

05:54

Again, this doesn’t mean you can’t process effectively. It may just be that you can’t process the information efficiently in the timeframe that you’d like. But I think with a little grace and compassion and a willingness to learn new strategies, you can learn how to take in, make sense of information and respond in the way you want. Eventually.

Let’s see how you might do this in situations where you are either reading texts or listening to something, such as a recording or podcast. Remember, just because you can skim information quickly or play the podcast at double speed, if you can’t actually make sense of the information and formulate a response, you’re still processing slowly. It’s not all about the speed. Of course, if you just want to get the big picture and aren’t concerned about all the details you might decide it’s okay not to get all the details.

06:58

Go ahead, play my podcast at double speed. But, if you decide it’s important to accurately process the material you’re reading or listening to, you may choose to first schedule it at a time of day that’s optimal for you to be able to focus and attend to that kind of material. Also, rather than reading or listening to the material all at once, read it for the amount of time you can hold your attention.

You could try a Pomodoro, 25 minutes, or whatever amount of time is right for you. Also, you might be able to attend better if you are reading or listening actively by having a question in mind you are trying to answer. Having an objective in mind will make it easier to focus and attend, rather than skim. So, for example, while listening to this, you might ask yourself, how can I more accurately process material I’m reading or listening to. And then try to answer that question.

08:01

I know this sounds like a lot of work. But think of all the time you waste when you’re not reading or listening effectively. Figuring out how to do this better, I think will probably save you time in the long run. But don’t take my word for it. Try it out and see what happens.

But if it’s just you and the task such as reading or listening to recording, you can structure the activity to suit your needs. But what if, what if your slow processing challenges show up when you’re in a meeting with another person? You can still meet your needs. But you may need to do a little negotiating. Hopefully, if it’s your partner or other family member or a friend, you can easily ask for what you need without too much finagling and too much structure. But when it’s someone in your work environment like your boss, a colleague or client, you’ll likely have to put more thought into structuring the conversation to accommodate your processing speed.

09:05

The first step you might take is to agree on the agenda, if it’s more than one topic. And, if you notice the conversation going off topic, you could gently suggest something like, “Do you mind if we talk about that another time as I’m trying to wrap my head around this.” That way, hopefully, you don’t get overwhelmed by too much information. In addition to the agenda, agreeing on the objective of the meeting might be helpful too. So you can keep in mind what it is that you’re trying to accomplish. That is, are you trying to make a decision or are you just brainstorming ideas?

Another strategy you could try, if needed, is to hit the pause button in the course of the conversation by asking, “I want to make sure I get this. Do you mind if I just reflect back what I think you said.” Or something like that.

09:57

And, if you need to commit to taking some specific action or giving a response and you’re just not ready, let the person know. You could say something like, “It’s a lot to think about. I’d like to take some time to digest. Sound okay if I get back to you by…?” And then give them a date. Yes, you’ll have to remember to get back to them by that date. But this hopefully will give you the time you need to process and respond the way you want.

How about a group setting? If you have challenges with processing in a group setting, it can sometimes feel like you’re an observer in a game of ping pong. Maybe it’s so fast and furious you’re not able to synthesize all the information that’s coming at you. And, if you are taking it all in, it may still seem like someone took your paddle.

10:50

So you can’t respond meaningfully on the spot. If you find yourself in these situations, you may just check out because it’s just too overwhelming. Alternatively, the stress of not being able to say anything may lead you to blurt out something, anything, just to be able to contribute. And when you do this, you might later regret it because it’s not as well thought out as you would have liked. To address this challenge, if you have a say in the structure of the meeting, you may ask or require that there be an agenda and that there’ll be a facilitator, if possible. If you can get the agenda ahead of time and give it some thought before the meeting, this might help you process easier during the meeting. And, of course, a skilled facilitator can make sure everybody’s voice is heard.

11:44

Whether or not you have a say in the structure of the meeting, taking notes can help you externalize your thoughts so you can process and organize them before verbalizing them. You might include in your notes questions, as well as thoughts about what is being said. This might help you participate if you’d like. If you’re still nervous about participating, even if you’re taking notes, you might find it helpful to proceed your comments with the caveat such as, “I’m not sure where I’m going to land on this. But my initial thinking is…”

And, if you just can’t formulate what you want to say during the meeting, you might say, “I’d like to give that (whatever that is) some thought and follow up later.” And, yes, you do need to figure out how you’re going to remember to follow up later.

12:45

There, you have it. You may process slower than you’d like, and it may be related to your ADHD. But remember, it’s not about your intelligence. Hopefully the strategies I’ve shared will help you think about what you might be able to do in situations where you’re just not processing as quickly as you’d like.

That’s it for now. I’m really glad you joined me and stayed until the very end. If you’re interested in learning more about my work with adults, with ADHD, please do check out my website, marlacummins.com. Of course, if you’ve learned a thing or two from today’s podcast, which I hope you have, please also pass along the link to anyone else in your circles you think might benefit. And, until next time, this has been Scattered, Focused, Done. And I’m Marla Cummins wishing you all the best on your journey to reimagining productivity with ADHD.

 

 

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Marla has an excellent understanding of ADHD and a great knowledge base of related topics. She was able to expertly guide me through decisions I needed to make and helped me tackle big and small things I needed to do. Knowing I had adhd was only 25% of the battle for me. I’m so glad that I chose to stay committed to coaching. Now that I have more self awareness about myself and my adhd I trust myself to get what I need done. I don’t try to do too much anymore and when I’ve done all I can on my own I’m more willing to reach out for support. My production is way higher than I expected, but I’m also way less stressed and that makes it easier on a personal level at home too.

— A.V., Vice President - Investment Sales

Coaching with Marla was very useful, and also essential. I do not know what I would have done w/o the Sunday night periods of going over the past week, looking forward to the next week, and making a plan. The actual phone check ins on Tuesdays…crucial, to help me get clear, as well as for the simple act of accountability. Marla served as a focal point (as in, ‘oh, yeah, this was what I was doing’), and–at times–as an anchor that grounded things. I can not imagine having had to go through the past 6 months w.o. someone ‘outside’ me, and my life, to help me stay the course. Now, I feel more confident in my abilities, in what I have to offer. I realize I do have options. How freeing! Lastly, but certainly not least, I have a very, very clear sense of my values, and I am using those to guide me, and that helps me to trust in my course.

— Cindy R., Writer and Editor

Before working with Marla I got by by winging it but I was not keeping up with the flow of information and I wasn’t managing my time productively. I was often reactive and overwhelmed. I didn’t even think I could be productive… Identifying where and why I was having struggles and having a person to help me through those was the most helpful. Marla is non-judgemental so when something didn’t go as expected, I felt OK talking to her about it and exploring different options to try.  She is a very good listener and is able to give helpful insights and suggestions. I truly enjoy our conversations. The outcome that I appreciate the most is that I feel more in control. Before there was always something I was forgetting to do or follow-up on. Now I think I have much better handle on things.  Also, I am able to focus more time on longer term projects so they don’t become a complete crisis when getting close to the due dates. This has eliminated the last minute rush that used to happen all the time. I am also just calmer. When I started to work with Marla I was at a point in my life that I was not satisfied with how my life was going. I wish I had done this earlier!

— M.P., Controller

What I gained from working with Marla was invaluable. Marla was consistently supportive, positive and uncritical. I learned to honor the way I work best, and am more accepting of my ADD and other characteristics. Now I ask myself, how can I get what I need to get done without running against my own personality? After learning more about ADD from Marla, I don’t think of my challenges as a personal weakness. This change in my thinking allows me to better handle my challenges by thinking of strategies to manage them, rather than engaging in self blame! Yes, cost was definitely a factor when I decided to work with Marla, but I knew that this is what good professionals charge. Being able to make choices that are right for me and learn strategies that last a life time is invaluable to me. The investment was certainly worth it. From working with Marla, I learned a lot about goal setting, meeting objectives, and doing that as a person with ADD. If you are stuck or frustrated, I would certainly hire Marla as a coach.

— C.O., Financial Manager

I have a lot more peace of mind, less stress, much less anxiety… I feel that we make progress in every session and always feel more confident that I am learning skills that will help me personally and professionally. I particularly like that I do not feel ashamed when I talk about areas I want to improve. Understanding that I wasn’t broken, and just think about things differently was key. Trying to learn the way non-ADHD people learn was a mistake I have repeated my whole life. I now know what the best environment is for me and can recognize distractions and noise immediately. I am now able to have way more confidence to let go of the recurring thoughts about tasks, because I have tools that remember for me. I drop a lot less balls. In fact, typically, if I don’t do something now, it’s because I consciously lowered it on my priority list. I couldn’t do that very well before. I used to just shut down and drop everything because the stress was so great. That never happens anymore. Thanks again for all your help.  Your coaching was probably the best investment I've ever made in me!

— T.D., Sales Professional

Together we identified obstacles that were preventing me from truly going after the job that I would be happiest in. I’m balancing a full workload (I currently have 4 part-time jobs), graduate school, and 15-20 hours of training as a competitive cyclist. For a few years, I was having trouble committing myself to finding a new job and this was, in turn, making it difficult for me to work toward my graduate degree. I recently overcame a major hurdle in my progress toward my degree and am in touch with an increasing pool of potential employers. Marla is a time management guru, to be sure, but her most unique skill is her ability to ask questions that help me to step outside of myself for a moment and take a hard look at my motivations and decision making processes. Her questions have helped me to become more independently active in that I now know how to ask myself the kinds of questions that Marla might ask me. Without Marla’s help, I probably would not be as far along in my job search as I am now and would still be far from finishing my degree. Thanks, Marla!

— Paul D., PhD Candidate / High-School Teacher

Through our work I clarified my goals, identified communication issues, fuzzy planning and established personal accountability. In working with Marla, I received practical organizing and planning techniques, inspiration and empowering suggestions.  Marla helped me work with each issue as developing life skills and emphasized personal responsibility. Marla is an excellent coach and compassionate, encouraging mirror. I recommend her without any reservations.

— Fred B., Business Consultant

The coaching worked so well because it was tailored just for me - not a cookie cutter type of experience. It was exactly what I needed! We identified and worked on my concerns - got at the root cause and figured out what I could do to make it better. I proved I am capable of growth and change. For one, my communication has improved through the different departments and with my own team. My email and task organization are better, too. I have more tools at my disposal to help with my organization which helps me feel more calm and settled, even when things start to get hectic at work. I have tried to be perfect for too long and it was causing me to focus on the wrong areas... I stopped thinking it is always my fault and I've started to develop a thicker skin when I do make a mistake. I can move on more quickly and stay focused on the current tasks instead of worrying unnecessarily. I am more confident in my abilities and I have learned how to stop worrying as often about things outside of my control. Marla did a wonderful job with everything. Everything we worked on I made improvements in!

— E.A., Human Resource Manager

Marla has been tremendously helpful in keeping me “on track” with important and complex projects during a time when I cannot afford to get lost. At the same time, she is helping me realize that while avocational goals are important, so too are relationships and personal fairness. In our last meeting, Marla helped me begin to tackle a lifelong misapprehension of time and how to gain control of it. More important than problems solved is my greater confidence in addressing problems and trying to solve them, rather than simply quitting because no resolution is apparent. Marla offers a non-judgemental, objective appreciation for the large and small difficulties and success that are not apparent to myself, and a way to order these things so that they can be confronted and appreciated, respectively. She has helped me see what appear to be insurmountable problems as just small impediments. Specifically, she has goaded me into making phone calls to people that I didn’t think would want to hear from me, and to do everything to keep communications channels open. She has also helped me by keeping a focus on the challenge I feel in organizing and constantly reviewing how to strike a balance between letting my schedule get out of control and focusing too intently on it and thus losing track of the bigger picture.

— Josh D., Professional Writer and Editor

Marla was my second coach. The first one did not really help me, so I was kind of skeptical. Marla’s help was astonishing. After only a few calls she seemed to have me figured out pretty well. She called me on empty promises, pushed me just enough never too much, and together we came up with tools that actually work and which I actually use. She has an uncanny ability to know how far she can push me without ticking me off. Thanks to that I never felt pressure to lie about or excuse what I had done or how I was doing. After living with ADD for many years I started believing that I was lazy, stupid, and crazy. Marla was able to convince me that I was none of these by helping me solve small issues and get a track record of success. Once those things were accomplished, many of the pieces sort of fell in to place.

— Marc D., Software Engineer

Marla’s support was critical in reducing anxiety after receiving the diagnosis of ADD. She imparts information in a warm, impartial, professional manner. Marla is always on your side and willing to work at your pace. At the same time, she challenges you to think about your daily decisions and how they impact your life, and your options for change, should you desire it. Marla helps you identify, prioritize, and focus on weaknesses in a nonjudgmental way and plants the seeds of ideas for you to follow up on, either immediately, or in the future when you’re ready. Above all, she compliments your strengths.

— Jane F., Parent

...while working with Marla, I have been able to move into a career that I have always wanted to be in. I spent many years with undiagnosed ADD not knowing why I had such difficulty with staying focused, starting projects and having difficulty finishing them, unable to prioritize what I needed to do in my life, and many of the other symptoms. I finally sought help through a physician who recommended taking medication. It was also suggested I find an ADD coach to help me re-learn new ways of managing my ADD. I contacted Marla, and after the first conversation I felt comfortable enough to give the coaching a try. After a few sessions working with Marla, she was able to help me start developing the goals and tools I needed to start clearing the clutter in my life. Today using the different techniques that I have learned while working with Marla, I manage my time more efficiently, and complete projects to the end. It is good to know that you do not need to make the journey alone with ADD. I look forward to working with Marla now and in the future.

— Chris E., Support Analyst

I've never felt as hopeful as I am now. Marla's reassuring voice and straightforward manner helped me to internalize a consistent approach to each problem. Before I was frazzled, couldn't do what I needed to do and felt like a fraud professionally. When things weren't working before I saw it as a personal failing. We figured out what I needed to do. And now stuff is not falling through my fingers and I'm not surprised by things that come up professionally. Every accomplishment felt reinforcing. I remind myself when I have organizational challenges now that it is my neurobiology, not me! I don't see myself as defective and am not ashamed anymore. I just think about the next step I need to do to figure it out.

— Deborah, Psychologist