Listening Skills: Are You There?

Preventing the mind from wandering while another person is speaking.

Stopping Mental Drifting

While your eyes may be locked on someone speaking, your mind can be miles away. In ADHD, this is not disrespect; it is a drop in brain arousal.

To maintain active focus:

Summarize out loud: Ask *"So what you mean is...?"* to check understanding.

Engage tactile channels: Holding a discreet fidget object keeps the nervous system stimulated enough to stay attentive.

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Visual and Somatic Listening

Listen with your mind's eye as well as your ears. As someone speaks, consciously visualize their narrative like a movie scene. This activates your visuospatial working memory and prevents mental wandering.

If you lose the thread during a long conversation, practicing honest self-advocacy by saying *"I missed that last point, could you repeat it?"* is far more respectful than faking attention.