How ADHD Affects Communication - and Strategies to Improve It (with Mark Bertin, M.D.)

In this hour-long ADDitude webinar, Mark Bertin, MD, discusses the impact of ADHD and executive function challenges on communication, and offers practical solutions for communicating with more ease - and clarity and less reactivity.
Download the slides associated with this webinar here: www.additudemag.com/webinar/h...
5:46 ADHD AND COMMUNICATION
11:14 ADHD, Language and Fluency
19:29 General Communication Guidelines
37:02 Mindfulness and Communication Exercise
31:34 MINDFULNESS AND COMMUNICATION
47:40 Summary
48:37 Q&A
Related Resources
1. Download: Become a Small-Talk Superstar
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2. Read: The Power of Role-Play for Building Social Skills
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3. Read: The ADHD Guide to Naturally Flowing, ‘Normal’ Conversations
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4. eBook: The ADHD Guide to Making Social Connections
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[@thetransferaccount4586]

just the perfect duration for an ADHDer to listen

[@nachocheeba]

For real, why so damn long 😭

[@snaakie]

I like the long video's, I can listen to it while doing something else.

[@AD-Dom]

I’m an adult that hasn’t been able to adjust to my life. This guest has made the most sense that I’ve heard in a looooong time. It’s hard to find help when you do know what to ask.

[@nataliecaileen1201]

I love how many webinars ADDitude offers but I wish it was more clearly defined when they will be more geared towards children / parents versus adults with ADHD. Based on the advertising for this webinar, I had expected this to be focused on adult communication.

[@AlexiHolford]

Thanks for saving me the time of watching this! I was interested in a talk about communication as an adult.

[@AlexiHolford]

I just noticed that this webinar is part of a playlist for “teens and tweens with ADHD.”

[@quotidian5077]

Im an adult and i feel like this applies to me as well as anyone.

[@kietro8319]

I totally agree - and thanks for saving me the time!

[@whoolawoop6817]

​@@AlexiHolfordMost recommended strategies here are as helpful for adults...

[@neilthornely9713]

I'm so bad at multi-step requests that I'll now just stop people mid flow and say 'sorry there's no chance I'm remembering all of these instructions, either text me them, write them down or it's not getting done lol' 😂

[@melliecrann-gaoth4789]

Me too, multi steps- not a chance. But testing for working memory in a test set up does not at all reflect my challenges. Repeating back sequences of numbers in a very quiet, almost empty room- I did “ good” I approached it like the last mile of the marathon 🤨 if I did marathons!

[@sarahl795]

I wish my adhd allowed me the attention span to listen to this.

[@rachelpickens6025]

Word 🤘

[@leludallasmultipass]

Do a few minutes at a time and don’t give up.

[@isacare360]

Finally someone who absolutely talks fully about communications issues. I'm glad i got curious to see by myself and took that time ❤ Plus VERY helpful for partners to understand adhd people 🙏

[@kf4083]

This is great great information! For everyone! And this is really great information for people in leadership and management situations also. And great great points on ADHD ! 💖💖💖

[@amyhoover9]

I know that mindfulness has helped me a TON over the years, but depending on the severity of such ADHD symptoms, the subject of such matters may need more specialized care and attention. I was diagnosed with ADD, which means that a lot of my symptoms are purely related to focus and concentration, which makes picking up mindfulness either easy or difficult depending on my mental/emotional state and how distracted I feel. ADHD has 3 different types, and like any other disability, they do come on a spectrum with either high functioning or low functioning traits. It's important to keep in mind where the individual falls on that spectrum and to personalize the experience.

[@fnordipard]

stunning, invalueable

[@Hippespinster]

I'm totally getting how mindfulness can help with communication, but isn't it kind off the thing with ADHD that mindfulness is very very hard to do because of the executive function issues? I practiced for years and still can't be aware most of the time, because my mind is such a freaking mess... Either overstimulated and shuts down or so bored it gets distracted and very chatty. Because of that I'm always tires and for being aware you really need a rested brain. I really wish there was way more guidance within mindfulness for people with adhd. Or is it just me who struggles so much with that? If I'm present and aware my ADHD is usually not even an issue, but getting there is exactly the problem.🤷🏼‍♀️

[@mitthrawnuruodo1730]

How exactly did you practice mindfulness?

[@Hippespinster]

@@mitthrawnuruodo1730 I did a MBCT course at a mental health centre about 14 years ago but was doing it wrong I knew a few years later. I thought that I was not supposed to think anymore and got really bad ocd and panic attacks from that. Later I practiced myself with the kabat-zinn textbook, monks on YT and Eckhart Tolle and that was way more understandable for me. In theory... Practice is still so hard. I'm going to do a new course later on (long waiting list) that is altered for ADHD. I'm glad I told my doctor I struggle with this so much, because I didn't know they have a special course. And I also get one on one help with mindfulness, because I also have a functional neurological disorder that makes it really hard to feel my inner body (interoception). That might also be the issue with the difficulties I have with the mindfulness exercises I realized the past couple of days. I either feel a lot of pain or I feel nothing in my body, so it's quite difficult to go there with my attention.

[@fnordipard]

nobody expects you to become a buddha. but mindfulness and awareness can be great help to notice when we are off-balance sooner and step on the breaks - take a timeout from a situation before it escalates - as well as evaluate things in retrospective.

[@nachocheeba]

4:53 is when it finally gets into it.

[@erinjean9971]

I made it to 35min before I realized I haven’t been listening. Break time, I’ll be back someday to finish. 😂.

[@ILLRICARDO]

ironic isnt it, an adhd magazine making videos to very suitable for adhdERS

[@lisawhitehall1870]

I need help in my state. I am constantly denied. I don't know how to go about it 😕. State keeps denying me.. WHERE in oregon can I get the support and services I really need.

[@rosewild7142]

Same.

[@ninasmith-pd8fv]

Was hoping to send this by email, but I could not find an email on the website that did not involve me messing with an app. Just hoping that going forward that the titles can be more intentionally selected. I am really trying to take charge of my ADHD symptoms and keep running across videos that are basically only for children. I know this can technically be helpful, but I am tight on time and would like to know who the video is meant for before watching.

[@1-1-1-1-jakeje]

I've got an idea! Let's take a topic of interest for someone with attention deficits and executive functions and start with a 3-minute intro and "some housekeeping items".

[@jamesdevries1218]

h... 5:46 ADHD AND COMMUNICATION 11:14 ADHD, Language and Fluency 19:29 General Communication Guidelines 37:02 Mindfulness and Communication Exercise 31:34 MINDFULNESS AND COMMUNICATION 47:40 Summary 48:37 Q&A

[@scottgodkins2017]

Is that a wind chime in the background?! What in the hell is that occasional high pitch type of noise???? Anyone else? Will have to comb the comments in a minute. Barely noticeable, but dang it.

[@HMFC14]

It's a bad laptop mic.

[@ir4700]

53mins ish - what if the hurtful blurting out repetition is related to commonly co-occurring Tourettes? I'm guessing consequences could increase anxiety /frustration? I'm not sure I ever learned from consequences - I do seem to do better with my son and just ask him why... what's behind it. Harder work but otherwise potentially no resolve and just a masking of frustration til the next time could occur...for me consequences - do not deter- no matter how big a deal-learning/having benefits for me does help though.

[@melliecrann-gaoth4789]

Poor you- that is so so difficult to also have Tourette’s. Much compassion to you 💚

[@MWong2005]

How can my school support my 10th grader with his ADHD?

[@mitthrawnuruodo1730]

Honestly there is no way. He just has to bare it.

[@Akiodio]

@@mitthrawnuruodo1730true

[@tbaraklmia]

فيديو للadhders المقدمة مالته ٤ دقايق؟ تحجي صدك انت و اني مليت بأول ٤ دقايق

[@irisviel_Einzbern]

😢 an hour long videos is too long for me, a summary in comments by someone or timestamps on video by creator would be really help

[@dsddala467]

Also, people with ADHD are more likely to circumstantial speech than tangential. Tangential is a more severe version usually reserved in a diagnosis for people with dementia, schizophrenia, and severe mental issues. People with tangential speech issues are usually way off topic and never return to the original point. People with circumstantial speech issues go the "long way" around explaining something or give more detail than necessary, but still return to the original topic for their conclusion. While sometimes they may get a little confused or forgetful about the exact original topic in their description, it is still mostly relevant, and not "off" topic. I wish ADDitude would CLEARLY differentiate between these webinars that are intended for children and adults. Most of this webinar was about children and useless for me. Grrrrrrrr.......... waste of my time.

[@AlexiHolford]

Huh? You lost me in the first sentence.

[@groadybones]

I didn't have any issues understanding you.

[@AlexiHolford]

@@groadybones I don’t understand this “they are more likely to with circumstantial communication… .

[@spocksdaughter9641]

I hope you get my extreme appreciation to learn there is a term for what people critize the most abt 70 Yr old F me!!! I can not tell you !! I answer w the full data I want if trying to find something out when I ask questions. I have been resigned and assumed when trying hard I speak from stream of consciousness and give optional view points.... while my high intelligence critical thinks just what is my ans? This was an enormous break trough of validation. Thank you for meeting myself?

[@bettyveronica9880]

Agreed 💯with everything you said!

[@dr.tanveerjahan4535]

My adhd is making it difficult for me to focus on this talk

[@aserpent]

Doc sits there twiddling his thumbs for four minutes while the host talks over him, and in all the noise, she does not tell us whether this advice is for adults or children. Yaaaa improve your communication.

[@cnightingale9]

Yes I agree. There was no indication in the title or description that this was about children. I think the default these days is children. If it’s about adults, it will be in the title. 😩

[@dal2888859]

Please stop promising to "pause for questions!!!"

[@andrecanuck2459]

Anyone that have ADHD will look at a video of 1:02:26 will be like “ I will be able to pay attention for the first 2 minutes and 1 hour of zooming-out and get back to it at the end because the video stopped or some propaganda just kicked in” Or maybe that’s just me ….🤷‍♂️ Holly crap! I think I have ADHD too 😱

[@TheDeepRedCharlie]

His slides seemed pretty pointless to me.

[@brianc11388]

These presenters need to stop rushing trying to get everything in the presentation done in an hour. even with my ADHD I have no clue what the hell he's talking about. Keeps going on different subjects and coming back and going this way and going that way but we have to rush to get done to do the questions. let them have enough time! why is there a time limit, when people actually want to understand and learn this stuff?

[@dsddala467]

I hate when people try to sell the idea of "mindfulness." It's a fluff word that means nothing and yet is completely open to interpretation and requires a person to buy a book, go to a class and "learn" to be mindful---utter BS. It muddies the notion of how to monitor your mind and body. Being "Aware," is intuitive and basically means roughly the same thing (minus the profit part...), and it's easier for people to practice and understand---no expert needed. Be aware of your mind (what you thinking up front and what is happening behind the scenes subconsciously). Be aware of your body. What are you feeling in your head? In your heart? In your belly? How is your breathing? Even if you are not able to check in with these parts, you are still successfully "aware" because being aware of what you cannot connect with IS Awareness. Here is a video by a Tibetan Monk who is somewhat comedic, easy to watch and will teach you in a short time how to be mindful. Even a child could watch it and understand, his analogies are very basic but an Ah HA! kind of thing. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5y3kqKahsuMiLM