ADHD: This Is How You Get A Better Memory - Simple Mind Strategy

Summary

In this video, Andrew from 'Transforming ADHD' shares a case study of a 16-year-old boy struggling with memory and executive functions. Andrew guides viewers on how to harness the boy's innate gaming memory skills to improve his daily life tasks. By connecting familiar gaming strategies to new tasks, the boy successfully remembers to complete chores accurately. The video emphasizes the potential for transformation from within, regardless of a diagnosis, and encourages viewers to explore these strategies for themselves or their children.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The video discusses transforming executive functions in the mind, particularly for individuals with ADHD, by focusing on cognitive functions, emotional states, and identity.
• 👦 The case study involves a 16-year-old boy who struggles with memory, specifically remembering tasks given by his mother.
• 🎮 The boy has a strong memory for computer games, which the speaker uses as a strategy to improve his memory for everyday tasks.
• 🔍 The concept of the 'inner map' is introduced, which represents an individual's internal visualizations and memories.
• 🤔 The boy was challenged to identify what he was good at, leading to the discovery of his excellent memory for gaming details.
• 📍 The speaker uses the boy's memory for game details to create a strategy for remembering tasks by associating them with visual gestures.
• 💡 The strategy involves associating everyday tasks with the boy's favorite games, creating a mental link that aids in memory retention.
• 👍 The boy successfully applies the strategy, improving his ability to remember tasks and their specifics, such as the correct amount of oatmeal.
• 🌟 The video emphasizes that motivation is already present within the individual and can be harnessed to transform cognitive functions.
• 🔑 The speaker suggests that cognitive functions can be changed and improved from the inside out, not just through external rewards.
• 📚 The video encourages viewers to explore the possibility of changing problematic behaviors and cognitive functions quickly and effectively.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Andrew's channel, 'Transforming ADHD'?

The main focus of Andrew's channel is to help transform ADHD from the inside out by examining cognitive functions, emotional states, and identity.

What is the case story about in the video script?

The case story is about a 16-year-old boy who has problems remembering tasks given by his mother and how Andrew guides him to improve his memory using his interest in computer games.

What was the teenager's initial problem with memory?

The teenager had difficulty remembering tasks, specifically when asked to do three things at once, and often failed to complete them or did them partially.

How did Andrew identify the teenager's memory issue?

Andrew identified the issue by asking the teenager what he struggled to remember and zooming in on the specific tasks that caused frustration.

What was the teenager's interest that Andrew used to help improve his memory?

Andrew used the teenager's interest in computer games to create a mental strategy for remembering tasks.

What is the concept of the 'inner map' mentioned in the script?

The 'inner map' is a concept referring to the individual's internal representation of their thoughts, memories, and sensory experiences, which is unique to each person.

How did Andrew use the teenager's 'inner map' to improve his memory?

Andrew used the teenager's ability to vividly remember details about his favorite computer games to create a mental strategy for remembering everyday tasks.

What was the result of the strategy Andrew implemented with the teenager?

The teenager was able to remember tasks and items more effectively, as demonstrated when he returned two weeks later and reported success in remembering oatmeal, a soother, and diapers.

What is Andrew's message about the potential for change in individuals with ADHD?

Andrew's message is that individuals with ADHD are not bound by their diagnosis or past experiences; they can change problematic aspects of their cognitive functions and do so quickly with the right strategies.

What resources does Andrew offer on his website, transformingADHD.com?

Andrew offers free resources, articles, newsletters, and other materials to help individuals and their families understand and manage ADHD.

What is the call to action for viewers of the video?

The call to action is for viewers to subscribe to the channel for more examples of transforming cognitive functions, and to visit transformingADHD.com for additional resources.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Transforming Executive Functions in ADHD

Andrew, from 'Transforming ADHD,' introduces a method to enhance cognitive functions and emotional states in individuals with ADHD. He shares a case study of a 16-year-old boy struggling with memory issues, particularly with remembering tasks assigned by his mother. The boy could only recall the first task and partially the second. Andrew uses the boy's interest in computer games to help him develop a mental strategy for remembering tasks by associating them with his favorite games. This approach leverages the boy's existing memory capabilities for gaming to improve his executive functions in daily life.

05:07

🎮 Leveraging Gaming Interests for Memory Improvement

The second paragraph delves deeper into the strategy used to help the teenager with ADHD. Andrew connects the boy's need to remember household tasks with his ability to recall details about his favorite video games. By creating visual associations in the boy's mind, such as placing a specific item like oatmeal or diapers in a mental 'slot' corresponding to his top favorite games, the boy is able to remember tasks more effectively. The success of this method is evidenced by the boy's return two weeks later, demonstrating his improved ability to remember and execute multiple tasks accurately. Andrew emphasizes the importance of internal motivation and the potential for rapid transformation of cognitive functions when approached from within, rather than through external rewards.

Keywords

💡ADHD

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. In the video, ADHD is the central theme as the presenter discusses strategies to transform cognitive functions related to it. The script mentions a 16-year-old boy with ADHD who struggles with memory and executive functions, which are key issues often associated with ADHD.

💡Cognitive Functions

Cognitive functions refer to the mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses. The video emphasizes transforming cognitive functions in individuals with ADHD, focusing on improving memory and planning abilities. The boy in the case study is guided to enhance his executive functions, which are part of cognitive processes, to remember tasks more effectively.

💡Emotional States

Emotional states are the temporary conditions of a person's emotions, which can influence their thoughts and behaviors. The video script touches on the importance of understanding emotional states in the context of transforming ADHD, suggesting that emotional well-being is intertwined with cognitive and behavioral changes.

💡Identity

Identity refers to the characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is. In the video, identity is considered as part of the holistic approach to transforming ADHD, implying that self-perception and self-identity play a role in how individuals with ADHD view themselves and their abilities.

💡Executive Functions

Executive functions are a set of cognitive processes that include planning, problem-solving, and organizing. The video presents a case where a teenager struggles with executive functions, particularly remembering tasks. The strategy used in the video aims to improve his executive functions by leveraging his interest in computer games to create a more effective memory technique.

💡Inner Map

The inner map is a conceptual tool used in the video to describe the mental space where a person's internal representations, such as memories and visualizations, are stored. The script uses the boy's ability to vividly recall details of his favorite computer games from his inner map to illustrate how he can use this mental space to improve his memory for everyday tasks.

💡Memory

Memory is the ability to encode, store, and retrieve information. The video's narrative revolves around improving memory, specifically short-term memory, which is a common challenge for individuals with ADHD. The teenager in the case study learns to use his existing memory skills for gaming to remember everyday tasks more effectively.

💡Strategies

Strategies in this context refer to the methods or plans used to achieve a specific goal or solve a problem. The video demonstrates how the teenager develops a strategy to remember tasks by associating them with his favorite computer games, showing that personalized strategies can be effective in transforming cognitive functions.

💡Transformation

Transformation in the video refers to the process of changing or converting something into a different form. The main message of the video is that it is possible to transform executive functions and cognitive abilities in individuals with ADHD, not through prolonged struggle, but by identifying and leveraging their existing strengths.

💡Motivation

Motivation is the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way. The script highlights the importance of intrinsic motivation, such as the boy's interest in computer games, in driving the transformation of his cognitive functions. It suggests that motivation is already present within the individual and can be harnessed for change.

💡Case Study

A case study is a detailed analysis of an individual, group, or event, often used to illustrate a point or test a theory. In the video, the presenter uses a case study of a 16-year-old boy with ADHD to demonstrate how cognitive functions can be transformed. The case study serves as a practical example of the video's overarching message.

Highlights

Andrew introduces a transformative approach to ADHD focusing on cognitive functions, emotional states, and identity.

A case study is presented involving a 16-year-old boy with memory issues, aiming to demonstrate the potential for immediate executive function improvement.

The boy struggles with remembering tasks assigned by his mother, particularly when asked to do three things at once.

Andrew identifies the boy's interest in computer games as a potential tool for memory improvement.

The boy's ability to remember the details of his favorite games is used as a strategy to improve his everyday memory.

The concept of the 'inner map' is introduced as a mental construct for visualizing and remembering information.

The boy's existing memory strategy for games is repurposed to help him remember household tasks.

A technique of associating tasks with visual images is used to enhance the boy's memory retention.

The boy successfully applies the new memory strategy, remembering tasks and quantities accurately after two weeks.

Andrew emphasizes the importance of internal motivation over external rewards for lasting behavioral change.

The video aims to inspire viewers to consider the possibility of rapid cognitive transformation.

Andrew promises to provide more examples of cognitive function transformation for different age groups.

The video encourages viewers to subscribe for more content on transforming ADHD.

Resources and support are available at transforming ADHD dot-com for further assistance.

Andrew highlights that cognitive functions are not bound by diagnosis or past experiences and can be changed.

The video concludes with a reminder of the potential for rapid and significant cognitive change with the right strategies.

Transcripts

[Music]

hi guys Andrews from transforming ADHD

hair this is where we look at and

transform ADHD from the inside out by

looking at the cognitive functions and

the emotional states and the identity

and how we look at ourselves in one art

today I'll guide you through a case

story with a 16 year old boy who had

problems remembering stuff so I want to

show you how you can transform executive

functions in your mind from the inside

out not through hours and hours and

months of struggle but in one go so that

it works and that you can start using it

or is a or was a 16 year old teenager he

was living with his mom and the moms

newly born infant child and the kid

really wanted to yell help at at at the

house but he couldn't remember anything

that was a phrase he used when he came

into my practice and remember something

so I asked him so specifically what is

it that you can't remember until we kind

of zoomed in on that that thing he was

frustrated about which was when his mom

asked him to do three things he would

not be able to do either one and he

would gave kind of a partial solution to

the first one so if she asked him to

pick up three things he would go and

pick up the first or something that kind

of was like the first so if she asked

for oatmeal you would probably come back

with oatmeal but not in the right

measurement

the second two so what do you what he

wanted to do was remember and he knew he

couldn't so when I asked him what would

you like to be different is like he was

like well I I want to be able to

remember but I don't know how and so I

thought I would challenge that and I

challenged that by asking him what what

he was good at I knew that he was fond

of games computer games and I knew he

had a lot of them so I asked him what

are your three favorite computer games

and he was like and and this is his hand

motion he was like well there's world of

warcraft there's some kind of shoot him

up and kill him game and there's some

kind of run him over and killing game

and and with these gestures he was

pointing to something in his inner map

as we call it so this is where all our

inner visuals are in our noises and our

inner songs and whatnot they're

represented in this inner construct that

we call the inner map and you want to

think of it as kind of a parallel

universe that you're the only one who

can see this is where you know you're

spelling this is where you remember

stuff so everything is in there and for

him he would gesture to the recall point

in his mind one two three

were his games I could even ask him so

what's your fourth favorite game and he

would point down here well you can't see

and when I asked him about his fifth

favorite game he was used in this motion

down in front of him saying I there died

I don't know I know so this was a really

good strategy mental strategy to

remember one two three maybe four and

not five things and I I I asked him

about what he was pointing at here and

he said well it's like I see that DVD

cassette

with the thing in the the things on the

front the fonts there the magician with

the staff and the wah the wand and and

would not and and he would explain all

these in incredible detail not knowing

that I was asking these things to allow

him to realize how well he really

remembered over here he could remember

what can a bad guy with what kind of

weapon and again the fonts and

everything on the front cover of that

DVD cassette and the same thing down

here so he had brilliant memory for

remembering three things he was just

using it wrong he was using it very well

at some times and very poorly at other

times now what we did then was kind of

use those same three gesture points to

visually connect what he was trying to

remember with his mom to that awesome

strategy that he was already using

oatmeal in the right amount here he

would put a little soother fold with the

handle flapping in the right direction

and here he would put diapers so that he

had very clear visual images in his mind

about these things and from there on he

was like oh is that it I can do that

because that would be the same as if I

got a new game it would immediately be

put in somewhere first second or third

so I'm very flexible with the first

mechanism so I can just remember things

easily with the strategy and we can have

just wrapped it up there cuz he wanted

to go home and test it when he came back

two weeks later he was like oh yeah I

got it down oatmeal soother and diapers

and in the right amounts and and whatnot

so that concluded our work with that

strategy it also showed me this was one

of my earlier earlier cases with

cognitive functions like can you plan

out a scenario if you don't have that

ability can you plan out things can you

remember in your short-term memory three

things if previously you didn't know how

to do it and the answer is yes you can

do that but you need to work it from the

inside out you need to figure out what

strategy is in there like this guy

wouldn't have been better at remembering

three things if you had motivated him

with Stars or angels or whatnots

you couldn't have bought your way into

his good memory but you can change it

transform it even from the inside out

and then it becomes easy because the boy

is motivated he might become slightly

more motivated for a brief period at

least by money or games or stars or

whatnot but the real motivation is

already in there he wants to do this and

it's

he learns it he can just go and do it so

what I would really like for you to get

out of this video why I'm here producing

this video is because I would love for

you to know it's possible to even think

in these directions now you're probably

not going to go home and and do this

with yourself or with somebody else with

your child just by listening to this

video or watching this video but I hope

you will take it from me then you your

child can change these things that are

problematic for you and they're not

they're not bound by a diagnosis they're

not bound by what used to happen they

really are not bound at all you can

change these things and it can go really

fast so I'm going to come back on this

channel and give you more examples of

this I'm gonna do it with kids I'm gonna

do it with teens and and and even adults

that transform these things really fast

so do subscribe below if you think this

is interesting and valuable to you or

your child also head over to

transforming ADHD dot-com where I have

loads of free resources and articles and

newsletters and whatnot I'll see you

there