Assistive Technology for ADHD

How Can Assistive Technology Help People With ADHD?

ADHD is a clinical neurodivergence that affects the executive functioning of a person’s brain. Around 5% of the adult population has ADHD, although estimates suggest 80% of people in the UK who have ADHD don’t know it. ADHD has three different presentations including Hyperactive/Impulsive, Inattentive, and Combined – which is a mixture of both. 

Due to differences in the prefrontal cortex, people with ADHD experience differences across the following executive functions:

• Cognitive Flexibility: People with ADHD may face difficulties adapting their thinking, routines, and behaviour to new situations. 
• Working memory: Retaining information, listening to and following instructions, and paying enough attention are all typical problems for people with ADHD.  
• Emotional control: People with ADHD may be more likely to have intense emotional reactions to triggers or feel things more intensely. They may struggle with Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria, for instance.  
• Inhibitory control: Impulsivity is a common feature of Hyperactive/Impulsive ADHD and this may be due to difficulties with inhibition.  

So what are some of the key ways Assistive Technology for ADHD helps people with this type of neurodivergence be productive at work and in study? 

Improves Focus and Concentration

Assistive Technology for ADHD can reduce distractions for people with ADHD in a variety of ways. Studies show almost 90% of people with ADHD think distractibility is the most annoying thing to handle at work. Assistive Tech can tackle this by removing images on screens or blocking out certain sections. And productivity tools such as mind mapping and captioning software can boost comprehension and focus by qualifying conversations. 

Enhances Communication

Because of differences in emotional control and working memory, some people with ADHD can be inappropriate in communication, such as blurting out words at inappropriate times. They may finish people’s sentences or zone out in conversations. Such inappropriate behaviour can create social problems that people with ADHD may not intend. Assistive Tech like VR and AR software can help to train individuals to improve these skills over time. 

Facilitates Better Time-Management

Many people with ADHD struggle with ordering and prioritising thoughts, tasks, and activities. Sometimes, they may feel too overwhelmed to start and may need different forms of Assistive Technology for ADHD to help them. Time management apps, calendars, productivity tools, and note-taking software can all support orderly thinking and task prioritisation.  

Enables Creativity and Boosts Confidence

Assistive Tech can boost innovation and creativity in many ways and people with ADHD very often have creative skills they should focus on developing. Over two-thirds of neurodiverse staff say creativity and innovative thinking are their best workplace strengths. And they’re most likely to unlock such talents at work when they receive appropriate forms of Assistive Tech. 

What Types of Assistive Technology Benefit People With ADHD?

Let’s now review the key assistive tools that are available for people with ADHD and outline some of the ways they can benefit them.  

Captioning and Note-Taking Software

Focus, concentration, and prioritisation are all areas where captioning and note-taking software can help. It’s Assistive Technology for ADHD offering real-time captioning in meetings and lectures. Captions improve focus and concentration while transcripts reduce anxiety, stress, and masking for people with ADHD who may worry about losing track of conversations.   

Dictation Software

Dictation software converts spoken words into written words on a screen, which helps people with ADHD boost confidence and productivity levels. By converting spoken words into written words on a screen, people with ADHD can reduce their cognitive load from typing while boosting working memory. 

Text-to-Speech Software

Text-to-speech software converts written text into spoken words. Studies show how this form of Assistive Technology for ADHD improves reading skills and comes highly recommended for e-learning purposes. This may be because people the auditory versions help people with ADHD to focus their attention.   

Noise Reduction Tools

People with ADHD can have heightened sensory sensitivities while also becoming easily distracted by noises and busy working environments. Allowing for or providing noise-cancelling headphones can help to reduce distractions, lower anxiety, and help improve focus. 

Graphic Organisers and Screen Readers

Many people with ADHD respond to visual stimuli, perhaps because of their more creative-thinking brains. Graphic organisers can help them to present information visually while promoting better organisational and time-management skills. Plus, some screen readers can magnify points on a screen to spot writing issues, missing details, or oversights that people with ADHD sometimes make.   

Organisational Tools

A wide range of organisational tools and productivity apps can help people with ADHD stay on task and follow through with activities and plans. Mind-mapping tools, screen declutteres, but also captioning software also helps students and employees improve their organisation skills.

Free Assistive Technology for ADHD

Students and employees should be able to access appropriate types of Assistive Technology for ADHD to help them with work or study. And they can do this by applying for government funding through the following schemes: 

• Access to Work: People in employment who had ADHD should consider applying for funding from Access to Work to help them. Access to work is government funding that goes beyond the reasonable adjustments an employer should make.
• Disabled Students Allowance: Students with ADHD should consider applying to the DSA for funding towards Assistive Technology for ADHD. Funding from the Disabled Students Allowance is open to students of any age and can support more effective study while reducing anxiety. 

Assistive Technology Tools for ADHD at University

Assistive Technology for ADHD supports students with their learning in different ways and notable tools that can make the difference include: 

• Caption.Ed: Caption.Ed improves focus and concentration by removing distractions. People with ADHD can experience mind-wandering and lose focus. But captioning software can helo to keep their focus locked on what’s said. Plus, they’ll get a full transcript to support note-taking and to avoid missing key information, reducing anxiety and strain.  
• TalkType: For some people with ADHD, writing up notes may be easy when it’s dictated. For instance, students who visit sites for research or study may need to recall key aspects of their visit. Dictation software can help them write up notes without the need to write them.   
• Productivity apps: Several productivity resources, apps, and forms of software can support students to improve timetables, deadlines, and their study habits in general.   
• Graphic organisers: Visual representations can help with reading out words on screen and magnifying information when there’s too much on the screen. They can also support with decluttering items that are hard to read. 

Assistive Technology Tools for ADHD in the Workplace

People with ADHD can use assistive technology to improve focus, reduce anxiety and overwhelm, and help in a variety of workplace settings.  

• Caption.Ed: Captioning software can reduce anxiety and gives staff with diagnosed or undiagnosed ADHD the chance to engage in meetings without missing key information or zoning out. Staff can use Caption.Ed either in-person or during Facetime calls.     
• TalkType: TalkType’s Custom Words feature allows users to add technical terminology and any distinct names that it will recognise again. This allows students with ADHD to embed new words into their vocabulary. 
• Noise-cancelling headphones: Reducing distractions is a key intervention for people with ADHD so providing noise-cancelling headphones is often effective. 
• Screen readers: Some people with ADHD can find relief from the cognitive load using screen readers and decluttering apps. This can also help with promoting flexibility in switching tasks when absorbing lots of data or team management information.