How can those with ADHD improve their reaction times?

Studies have consistently shown that those with ADHD think, react, and process information slower. However, this isn't necessarily linked to or caused by differences in intelligence. Being smarter doesn't necessarily mean someone thinks faster.

One study showed that nearly half of highly intelligent children with ADHD processed information much slower than usual.

Incentives and rewards can potentially improve reaction times for those with ADHD.

One study below confirmed that those with ADHD have slower reaction times. However, when they were given performance incentives, their reaction times improved.

How a task or challenge is structured can affect reaction times for those with ADHD. Providing rewards and keeping things exciting can help improve reaction times.

The study below found that increasing the event rate and potentially making a test more exciting may improve reaction times. Those with ADHD were shown to respond better to faster event rates.

ADHD medications have been shown to improve reaction time potentially. One study of healthy adults found that those who were given Ritalin reacted faster to stop signals on a cognitive test. They also had less reaction time variability suggesting more attentiveness.

While ADHD is linked with slower reaction times, there are ways to improve it.

Patients with ADHD tend to respond well to rewards. Incentivizing efficiency and exemplary performance can potentially improve reaction times. Motivating ourselves to study or take on a challenge with rewards may be worth trying.

Additionally, keeping things exciting may improve reaction times as well. Study methods that use speed, for example, flashcards, may work better than slower methods, such as reading a textbook, for those with ADHD.