ADHD and Anasia: Exploring the Connection

Jun 7, 2024

ADHD and Anasia: Exploring the Connection

Introduction

  • Topic: Relationship between ADHD and Anasia
  • Context: Continuation from the previous week's discussion on aphantasia (inability to create mental images)
  • Focus: Deficiency or absence of private internal speech (Anasia) in ADHD

Definition

  • Anasia: Absence or deficiency in internal self-speech or dialogue
  • Importance: Researching the potential link between Anasia and ADHD

Background

  • Present Study: Article from neurosciencenews.com on "Inside The Quiet Mind"
  • Previous Research: Delays in the development of private speech in ADHD children (e.g., Laura Burke and Michael Potts, 1999)
  • Findings: ADHD children have delayed and off-task internal speech development

Key Points

  1. Development of Private Speech in ADHD:
    • ADHD children verbalize out loud longer than typical children
    • Delayed transition to internal mental speech
  2. Excessive Talking in ADHD:
    • Possibly due to reduced private speech
    • Public speech and private speech use the same cognitive systems
  3. Historical Insight:
    • Over 30 years of research linking ADHD to problems with private speech

Anasia and Its Impact

  • Related Cognitive Issues: Anasia vs. ADHD
    • Verbal Working Memory Tasks: Weakness in internal speech
    • Verbally Guided Behavior: Difficulty following internal and external instructions
    • Rhyming Tasks: Possible difficulties (specific to Anasia)
    • Reading and Story Comprehension: Impaired by weak internal speech and verbal working memory
    • Narrative Writing: Trouble writing down thoughts

Theoretical Framework

  • Theory of Executive Functioning: how private speech evolves
    • Internalization Process (Vygotsky): Public speech -> Self-speech -> Private mental speech
    • Importance of Verbal Working Memory: Fundamental for self-guidance
  • Delayed Development: Evident in children and persists in adults with ADHD
  • Connection to ADHD Symptoms: Similar difficulties seen in ADHD and people with Anasia

Practical Implications

  • Executive Function Deficits in ADHD: Linked to Anasia
  • Guidance Strategies:
    • Use of physical reminders (e.g., written to-do lists)
    • Reduced reliance on internal speech for self-control

Conclusion

  • Possible Link: ADHD and Anasia likely interconnected
  • Observations: ADHD individuals may have irrelevant or weak private speech, or lack it entirely
  • Call for Feedback: Encouraging audience to share personal experiences with private speech in ADHD

Closing Remarks

  • Gratitude for audience participation and engagement
  • Tease for next week's commentary on ADHD