Using ChatGPT: Enhancing Executive Functions in ADHD Brains

ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot that's now over a year old, has gained a lot of popularity due to its impressive language capabilities. It offers a collaborative and conversational approach that's easy to access and quick to reply. With accuracy checks in place, it could serve as your go-to tool for self-help, problem-solving, editing and assistance.

ChatGPT can be of particular use to adults with ADHD as an executive function tool. It can help these individuals overcome procrastination says Anna, a reader from New Zealand, who uses the AI to help her with writing drafts.

Another user, Lena from Florida who has both autism and ADHD, appreciates how AI chatbots like ChatGPT help to enhance communication skills for neurodivergent individuals. She finds the scripts useful for better and more successful communication.

Additionally, AI chatbots can aid ADHD adults in staying organized and productive.

However, while AI can perform many tasks and take over a lot of responsibility, it is important to note that it can make mistakes and even share incorrect information. Yet, the convenience of using AI chatbots to manage daily tasks can save significant amounts of time, money, and stress. Various ways in which the readers of ADDitude utilize AI chatbots in their professional and personal lives are given below. They advise asking very specific questions and adding plenty of context to them for the best results.

For instance, one reader used ChatGPT for coming up with report card comments, while another used it to translate complex medical results into simple English. Another use case included scheduling activities for children's summer vacation. It has also been used to write emails and make reports more concise.

Some individuals use AI chatbots to learn teen language, to calm down, improve their writing, or even to write creative, out-of-the-box stories. They have even used AI chatbots for professional work like constructing a resume or designing a product.

Even family members of people with ADHD have seen benefits – one user noted how her husband's use of ChatGPT has benefited their daughter, who can use it as a virtual tutor.

Another user with strong visual processing skills but struggles with language uses ChatGPT to generate language outputs to speed up some of her requisite tasks like meeting summaries or drafting parts of articles and blog posts. Although the results aren't perfect, she's hopeful that they will improve with time.

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF ADDITUDE Since 1998, ADDitude has worked to provide ADHD education and guidance through webinars, newsletters, community engagement, and its groundbreaking magazine. To support ADDitude’s mission, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.