Author: Avery Lombardi, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS
ADHD can make it difficult to stay fully engaged during conversations, leading to zoning out, missing details or interrupting without meaning to. According to NHS guidance and the American Psychiatric Association, these issues arise from differences in attention regulation, working memory and executive control rather than rudeness or disinterest.
Inattention, working memory and listening
Following a conversation requires the brain to focus, retain details and plan responses simultaneously. Research published in Frontiers in Psychiatry shows that people with ADHD struggle to sustain auditory attention, especially during long or unstructured discussions. NHS guidance and RCPsych resources note that adults often “struggle to listen when spoken to directly,” forget details quickly and may lose track of the topic (Royal College of Psychiatrists).
Why interruptions and drifting off happen
Impulsivity can cause people to interrupt or speak out of turn, while inattention and mind wandering can lead to missed information. Studies using auditory attention tasks suggest that adults with ADHD have weaker control over how the brain filters irrelevant sounds, making listening effortful and easy to lose.
Key takeaway
Maintaining focus in conversation is challenging with ADHD because the brain’s attention and memory systems must work harder. Structured environments, clear communication and management in line with NICE guideline NG87 can help improve listening, reduce misunderstandings and make communication less exhausting.
Avery Lombardi, MSc
Author
Avery Lombardi is a clinical psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. She has professional experience in psychological assessment, evidence-based therapy, and research, working with both child and adult populations. Avery has provided clinical services in hospital, educational, and community settings, delivering interventions such as CBT, DBT, and tailored treatment plans for conditions including anxiety, depression, and developmental disorders. She has also contributed to research on self-stigma, self-esteem, and medication adherence in psychotic patients, and has created educational content on ADHD, treatment options, and daily coping strategies.
All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy.
Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS
Reviewer
Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.
All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy.
