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Having #ADHD changes the way that memory works, and changes the types of things we can do to make our memory better.
Let's talk about it! A thread
(1/12)
Let's talk about it! A thread
(1/12)
Before we remember (or retrieve) information, we have to encode it and store it in the first place.
Encoding information to long-term memory means connecting it with similar information or connecting it to other pieces of context (2/12)
Encoding information to long-term memory means connecting it with similar information or connecting it to other pieces of context (2/12)
Encoding can be completely unconscious, completely conscious, or anywhere in between, but
Encoding can look very different for #ADHD'ers and NTs. This is because the connections we make are different too (3/12)
Encoding can look very different for #ADHD'ers and NTs. This is because the connections we make are different too (3/12)
Since people with #ADHD often think in a series of associations (known as associative thinking), we remember things based on associations too.
This means that information about a baseball player may not get connected to baseball or even sports (4/12) https://twitter.com/StructuredSucc/status/1327616525591748608
This means that information about a baseball player may not get connected to baseball or even sports (4/12) https://twitter.com/StructuredSucc/status/1327616525591748608
These associations change WHERE information is stored (and HOW it's retrieved).
Think about it this way: If you're cleaning your room and you find a baseball card on the floor, NTs might store it with sports stuff, or other baseball or sports cards (5/12)
Think about it this way: If you're cleaning your room and you find a baseball card on the floor, NTs might store it with sports stuff, or other baseball or sports cards (5/12)
ADHD'ers might store it with paper (because the card is made out of paper), with games (because baseball is a game), or near your bike (because you remember putting cards in your spokes as a kid) (6/12)
When we're trying to find that card again, we have to remember the association before we can find the card.
The same thing goes for memory. Before we can find the information we're looking for we first need to remember the association we made when we stored it (7/12)
The same thing goes for memory. Before we can find the information we're looking for we first need to remember the association we made when we stored it (7/12)
Because the information is stored in a different place, the cues that might induce an NT to retrieve the information might not for us.
Instead, we may need to send cognitive effort to remember when we first found the information so we can recall the association (8/12)
Instead, we may need to send cognitive effort to remember when we first found the information so we can recall the association (8/12)
To make the process of retrieving specific information easier, we can build more connections between it and other things we already know.
The more connections or associations we have between a piece of information, the more ways we have to retrieve it (9/12)
The more connections or associations we have between a piece of information, the more ways we have to retrieve it (9/12)
In particular, connecting multiple different ways of processing the information (visio-spatial, language, kinetic, etc.) greatly improves retrieval.
Practice, or retrieving the information over and over again, also helps by making an association easier to find (10/12)
Practice, or retrieving the information over and over again, also helps by making an association easier to find (10/12)
Most importantly though, to improve our long-term memory ADHD'ers need to understand that this process is ours and ours alone.
Cues that help NTs aren't likely to help us, so we need to focus more on the cues that are going to (11/12)
Cues that help NTs aren't likely to help us, so we need to focus more on the cues that are going to (11/12)
This might be thinking through a process, remembering when you learned it, or thinking about something other people consider random.
After all, just because NTs store their baseball cards with sports stuff, doesn't mean that should be the first place you look for yours (12/12)
After all, just because NTs store their baseball cards with sports stuff, doesn't mean that should be the first place you look for yours (12/12)
Looking for the unrolled thread?
Here's the link! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GGmCzRQMSABAF-kFb7yHgghELFEUaxph8nC9xninmag/edit?usp=sharing
Here's the link! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GGmCzRQMSABAF-kFb7yHgghELFEUaxph8nC9xninmag/edit?usp=sharing
