Why do people with ADHD have a terrible sense of time?

Individuals with ADHD often face challenges with punctuality and managing time, frequently being late or missing appointments altogether. While inattention and distractibility are factors, brain imaging studies shed light on more profound biological differences. MRI scans reveal unique features in the brains of those with ADHD: some areas, like the reward center, are larger, while regions responsible for attention are smaller. These findings suggest that ADHD symptoms have a biological basis, impacting how individuals perceive and manage time.

Research has begun to unravel another aspect of ADHD: a distinct sense of time. Studies reveal that individuals with ADHD have an internal clock that seems to run faster than those without the disorder. This is evident in tasks where they consistently overestimate time durations and struggle with small changes in time length. The altered sense of time, evident in both children and adults with ADHD, is rooted in the brain's differences in areas responsible for timing and time management.

Observational studies comparing children with and without ADHD have shown that the ADHD group perceives time differently. These children tend to overestimate how long tasks take and struggle to adapt to minor changes in time length. They perceive time as passing slower than it actually does, indicating a significant difference in how they experience and manage time.

ADHD affects various aspects of time perception, impacting daily activities and decision-making. Key brain areas involved in time and memory processing show decreased activity in individuals with ADHD. This affects their interval timing, which is crucial for decision-making and time estimation. Consequently, they face difficulties in processing and estimating time intervals, essential for cognitive tasks.

Children with ADHD exhibit a notable intolerance for delays. Compared to their peers, they are less tolerant of waiting and show increased frustration and slower reaction times following delays. This aversion to delays is a significant behavioral pattern in ADHD, affecting their ability to manage time effectively.

ADHD directly impacts executive function, which involves problem-solving and higher-level thought processes. Essential planning skills, such as thinking ahead, time management, and impulse control, are all part of executive function. Individuals with ADHD often struggle with these aspects of planning, although intelligence can sometimes compensate for these challenges.

Despite these challenges, there are ways to enhance time management and productivity for those with ADHD. Techniques like breaking down goals, time blocking, and the Pomodoro technique can be particularly effective. Planning activities from a scheduled event backwards and integrating specific, time-bound tasks into schedules can also help improve time management skills.