Basically like the title states. Do you think that you're more observant/perceptive than someone without ADHD?

I say yes. It seems like I notice or pick up on things much, much more than people I know who don't have ADHD.

And the busier the environment, the more of a gap there seems to be between me and them.

I feel like that all the time. I think some people who don't know me or understand me think I'm just an idiot who doesn't get it. What they don't realize is that I am aware of just about EVERYTHING that is going on. I'm very perceptive and intuitive so I am probably more aware of things that then person who thinks I'm off in lala land. Oh the irony.. :)

I think I read somewhere recently that people with ADHD are more intuitive. I'm guessing the need to focus on so much at once makes us more observant and perceptive.

I feel like that all the time. I think some people who don't know me or understand me think I'm just an idiot who doesn't get it. What they don't realize is that I am aware of just about EVERYTHING that is going on. I'm very perceptive and intuitive so I am probably more aware of things that then person who thinks I'm off in lala land. Oh the irony.. :)


Yes, this is pretty much my situation at work. everywhere, actually.

Yep I even notice haircuts on men. I observe so well one night I noticed the stars were moving things started revealing their true selves to me. I consider my self a modern-day shaman.

Yes I see things that non add people would never notice,see or make the 2 plus 2 connection.

Personally, I do tend to notice things that others don't - but I also tend to miss the obvious. Depends a lot on the situation, I suppose.

It depends on whether something is of interest to me or is connected to something that is of interest to me. For example, I'm very interested in staying alive, so I'm intensely aware of the activities of drivers all around me on the highways. My husband, on the other hand, makes note of landmarks. . .he'll tell me where something happened, and describe it to me in detail. As much as I may navigate by landmarks, I'm not watching for them on the Garden State Parkway! (One of us, BTW, has never had an auto accident!)

I'm not sure if I'm more observant than NTs, but I do notice a lot of things they don't, and vice versa.

Yes and no.

If I'm hyperfocused an alien from outer space could walk passed me and as long as it's not causing an immediate threat, I wouldn't notice. I would notice in observance RETROSPECTIVELY, but not really care in the moment.

If it's a piddly object in my everyday life I only use sometimes, say my bed stand -- if it gets moved 6 inches, I'll notice but won't REALLY notice until I try to set a glass of water on it and completely miss the table top...

If I'm bored but not anxious and allowed to fidget, for my eyes to wander, etc I passively pick up more information than I know what to do with.

If I'm anxious all of that information overwhelms me to the point I either need to leave, fall asleep (yes I do it in public sometimes), or will start to hyperfocus on something (ANYTHING... playing with sand, tracing words carved in the tops of bar tables, counting to 100, counting how many times someone touches their nose, etc) when that happens... I'm not observant at all...

So... in nearly any situation, there's a push and pull between being not at all observant and being very observant depending on my mood and the situation.

And... I tend to notice things other's things wouldn't... but they notice I guess more "typical" things. *shrug*

Yup.

My intuition scares people constantly. I always hear "How the hell did you KNOW that about me??" I tell them, I not a fricken psychic, I go off actions and body language. They still don't get it.

I also find money like, in the street ALL THE TIME...I guess my brain is honed to find it :D

We were standing in Times Square (super busy obviously) and a taxi goes by us and I'm like "There is a wallet on the top of that taxi"

Ok, who in the middle of Times Square pays attention to what's on a taxi?? :D

I seem to know everything that's around me, I know what people discussed about even though I didn't listen, I know if they left it too. I even notice if the airconditioner is turned on.

definately...I think it goes to trying hard to fit in, at least somewhat.

I think i am more observant to things that people don't usually notice, but at the same time, I am very bad at self observation.

weird, huh?

I notice stuff I want to ...like a roofline, or a porch rail , or the way the light hits the flowers against the fence....and i always notice clouds in the sky, and I pay a lot of attention to the "light" ...not a metaphysical one, the actual quality, and brightness of the sky outside .....

oh heh heh .....I notice stuff i like to photograph ...and vice versa.....


but I am more than a little oblivious to stuff lots of people pay attention to ....I am plain old just oblivious a lot of the time period....


oh yah ,,, I can walk by something on the floor 437 times and not notice it .....like that

This question makes me wonder why I go to the side of the page to doodle.
Like a picture frame of doodle.

I started studing big city birds vs non big city birds.
When I moved to Vancouver.
(The birds in the big city seem more viscious to me.)

After focusing on the comparison.
I started listening to the birds.
And now I listen to them so much,
That a chirping bird can interupt a conversation,
I'm having with a human.
I can tell when they are stress or unstressed (sometimes.)

I am very good at finding lost product in a very large busy warehouse.
Also am a very good driver and have very good hand eye skills.

G

So I ignore dirt and dust. Well... not any more because my partner is having a tough time with stuff like that.

I can recite without errors everything that has transpired since 8/5/09 to present day. In excruciating detail. Want to know about the mustard stain on the "hospitalist's" lab coat? I can tell you. But then I also know that he was wearing navy trousers, a brown check shirt and a brown striped tie.

I know his name and can recall it at the drop of a hat. He's a redhead and he stutters and he is a crap doctor because he has NO compassion whatsoever for the patient or their families.

Want to know the size of the three tumors that they found on 8/5/09? I can tell you. Want to know how many hours it was from his last chemo to his collapse following his PE? I know that too.

I have his medical records on my person at all times but I can recite them faster.

I don't recall if I took my medication at 3p like I was supposed to. I have no idea what- if anything- I had for breakfast. I had an appointment with my eye doc today and couldn't recall my own medical history. I frequently use my driver's license like a cheat sheet.

But I can tell you in excruciating detail how many protein vs carb calories my partner consumed today.

I hear conversations around me and can recite them word for word if they are interesting. I never know what will be interesting.

We were leaving my father's house to go check in to the hotel and as we were saying our good nights, I noticed a pill on the floor. So I picked it up. I could hear my partner explaining to my sister that this was just my inattentiveness. We don't know what med my dad missed or when. But it DID tell my sister that Dad needs to be watched when taking his meds.

Sometimes distractibility is a good thing.

I constantly see things that others don't. I always have done.

I went and looked back at the question I asked - it wasn't phrased entirely the way I meant. But most of the answers seem to fall in line with how I meant it, anyway.

It should have been "Do you think that you're more observant/perceptive on non-obvious stuff than someone without ADHD?"

My apologies. But everyone answered pretty much how I expected.

More observant is an understatement,

I was out walking the baby,and a kid was sitting on a stall outside of a shop,we walked past,i suddenly jerked my head around to see the stall fall,then make a noise.....i walked off thinking about thus,normally would not.It happened in that order.

Baby plus other people = hyper-focus...peripheral?

I know what is,a heightened state of awareness,vigilant because we dont want surprises,we cant spot the obstacle until its to late.....so make up for this in the 'situation',what ever it may be....hence over reacting/fight,under reacting/flight.

I think in my observation mostly the things which my minds classifies as 'possibly dangerous' take precedence over other things.
Of course my mind is way out of tune with the way the modern world has evolved and therefore keeps picking up on the wrong clues. Especially in man-made environments.

I know what is,a heightened state of awareness,vigilant because we dont want surprises,we cant spot the obstacle until its to late.....so make up for this in the 'situation',what ever it may be....hence over reacting/fight,under reacting/flight.

I agree with this. But I also think it's partly the mind looking for some sort of stimulation constantly, so I tend to pick up lots of things that are interesting to me in some way, whereas for someone who doesn't have the same wiring, they'd never see it because their brain isn't constantly trying to process things.

Has anyone ever noticed that things that can make most non-ADHD people scream and jump, you don't even flinch? Like your brain (even subconsciously) already categorized it as a non-threat even before a non-ADHDer saw it?

Take someone who is always trying to scare people and hides. Someone without ADHD, they jump out and scare them into a new hair color. But if they try it on someone with ADHD, it has no effect, or very little.

My parents always said that I was always seeing everything except what I was supposed to be looking at.:rolleyes:

That carried over into school and work as well. And sometimes it actually turned out to be a benefit when I noticed and pointed out something that everyone else had missed, which turned out to be important.

Of course, most of the time it was still pointed out as more of a "negative" at the time because I just "wasn't focusing" on what I should have been.

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My parents always said that I was always seeing everything except what I was supposed to be looking at.:rolleyes:


That sounds about right. While I was in law school I would read a case and think, oh, this is totally about X. Then it would turn out that for the purposes of the class, the case was actually about Y. X was just an interesting detail that could be important in another context, but was not at all relevant to the point we were supposed to be learning.

In fact, I think that sums up most of my academic experiences. I've always been a quick learner, but the lessons learned are not always the lessons that are being taught.

In terms of general observation, I am the absolute worst at seeing things around me. I have absolutely no eye for detail and no memory for objects. Remember that game we had to play as kids where they would put twenty small objects on a tray and let you look at it for a minute, then took it away and asked you to name as many of the objects as you could? I'm really bad at that game.

What I am observant about is people. I notice body language, facial expression, tone of voice, anything that clues me in to what's going on in their minds. Now, I'm not always 100% sure what to do with this information and often end up doing or saying the completely wrong thing, but I am generally pretty good at reading moods.

More observant to the stuff that matters, and less observant to the stuff that does.

I must say though, I am very good at predicting things based on my observations. I'm with you on the people thing eclare. Especially when it comes to other people. Meaning, I can watch two people discussing something, and I can entirely read what's going on, detect lies, etc...but when the focus is on me, that goes out the window until I've had time to reflect.

More observant to the stuff that matters, and less observant to the stuff that does.

My powers of observation detect something wrong with this sentence. :p

I went and looked back at the question I asked - it wasn't phrased entirely the way I meant. But most of the answers seem to fall in line with how I meant it, anyway.

It should have been "Do you think that you're more observant/perceptive on non-obvious stuff than someone without ADHD?"

My apologies. But everyone answered pretty much how I expected.I'm often praised at work for being observant, but I believe I am just more easily distracted and therefore notice more things than some other people.

I'm very good at noticing potential say in a stock or even in a fruit tree. It really makes life easier knowing something will grow well into the future.

Another thought just occurred to me that is related to this topic. Whenever I'm engaged in a task that involves close scrutiny and attention to detail - editing a document, for example, or looking for a specific phone number on a list of hundreds of calls - if I try to systematically read through each word or number, my mind immediately wanders and I inevitably miss even really obvious errors. If however, I just sort of let my eyes wander over the page, the important details will jump out at me with no problem. The problem is that it's much harder to trust this method, as it seems lackadaisical and careless. So I still try to go back and do things methodically, even though I know it's a complete waste of time.

I used to be a proof reader for a publishing house in New Haven. I was good at it and quick because I can spot an error without any problem and quickly. It can be hard to trust yourself because it seems like it is just too easy.

Same for me, about the reading and editing. I rarely actively focus on a book. I just open it and I guess I hit my "zone" and next thing I know I'm through it. But I can usually remember 90% or more of it, as well.

If I tried doing it like other people I've seen, faces all scrunched up and trying to concentrate - I think my brain would explode.

I used to be a proof reader for a publishing house in New Haven. I was good at it and quick because I can spot an error without any problem and quickly. It can be hard to trust yourself because it seems like it is just too easy.

AD(H)DTigger post reminds me of the diversity of personality in AD(H)D.
Some people with AD(H)D have the ability to do things that envolve reading and writting, be doctors lawyers, teachers, proof readers...

For me being a proof reader would be the farthest job on my mind when thinking about a job choice.

I don't doubt anybody has AD(H)D.

Its like the parts of the body that contribute to AD(H)D are similar but not exact.

Our strengths are different?

Still, When I think of myself as a proof reader.
I draw a blank.
I guess this would be our natural and developped ability?
Any advice?
G

Same for me, about the reading and editing. I rarely actively focus on a book. I just open it and I guess I hit my "zone" and next thing I know I'm through it. But I can usually remember 90% or more of it, as well.

If I tried doing it like other people I've seen, faces all scrunched up and trying to concentrate - I think my brain would explode.


Medication does this to me.
Its an amazing felling.
I still can't believe that I can read 25 pages (sometime).
Without trying!
Still I have not developped the habit of "I just open it".
Probably because of all the times I used to just open it.
And nothing happened.
Would this be considered need for behavioral therapy with the aid of medication?
G

I've actually done work as a proofreader, and made some okay money at it (for the time spent) - but I got that work via a temp agency, and forgot to keep calling back for more of it at some point. That was years ago, though.

I think you're probably right. Most everyone has different talents and strengths. I would venture that mine is being able to examine things and figure out how they work. Not in any one particular area.

I work in a chemical plant in the office now, but I started out in the plant. Most of the time I would walk around and just walk lines, examine valves and so on and so forth and pick up how things worked.

Same with the software system we use now. I got lucky and was picked to be the go-to guy for errors, etc. We were all taught the same basics, but I believe that just being ADHD makes me want to dig into things and learn how they work, where most people rely on being taught.

I mean, computers always interested me from the first time I got to play with one - a Commodore 64, if anyone remembers those? So most anything to do with computers that I can sit and play with and figure out, I usually end up being pretty decent with it.

Programming and programming languages, though, are the exception. Maybe it's because you have to use a certain structure.

Sorry if this rambles!

For me being a proof reader would be the farthest job on my mind when thinking about a job choice.

I don't doubt anybody has AD(H)D.

Its like the parts of the body that contribute to AD(H)D are similar but not exact.


There are still so many other unique aspects of our minds, personalities, and experiences beyond ADHD, and the way that they all intertwine might lead to vastly different outcomes. I have a natural facility for written language and grammar. You'd think that the rules of grammar might be difficult for someone with ADHD, and I think if I had been taught using the old-school methods I would have been far less successful. Fortunately for me, my school system embraced a holistic approach which focused on whole language (reading, writing, spelling, all taught in conjunction with science and social studies) that really worked to my advantage. Rather than learning sentence structure by rote, we were simply told to write on our own, then provided feedback.

We also had to read a lot, but we were given a lot of freedom to select books and topics that interested us. I learned so much about language simply by reading. Language itself is a complex structure, much like dinger's chemical plant. For me, reading words on the page is like examining the inner workings of a machine. You start by getting a general feel for it, and as you observe you notice more and more patterns. You also notice how various components relate to one another. It's a very organic and intuitive way of learning, and not everyone can do it, but it's what allows us to understand the big picture.

So, in terms of editing and proofreading, I guess errors jump out at me because I see the larger pattern and whatever the error is, it doesn't fit. But if I try to get down in the weeds, so to speak, and examine things on a more detailed level, I lose the pattern and everything starts to look the same.

Those are all good points, eclare. I didn't think about the structure of language, but yes, you are correct. I can say that when I read something that interests me, it's a given that I don't concentrate on it. It just happens. But if it's something I could care less about, then it takes me forever to finish it and I don't remember 10% of it, if that much.

Which is why I could probably never make it as a proofreader, because if I had to read and edit things, I'd get fired because I'd never get them done or they'd be done poorly.

I'm a good proof reader. I was very quick at looking up phone listings for customers when I was a telephone operator - no computers and a huge paper directory of listings. I tend to scan text automatically unless it is poetry or a great novel when I want to savour every word. I believe it is because I am distracted by things. ADHD students are the ones who call out that the teacher got something wrong or that there is an error in the textbook (very common). The errors distract me too.

On the other hand, ADHD interferes with me grasping, in a timely manner, a new concept from reading. I will often have to read something more than once to "get" it.

I am very handy to push the grocery cart,
remember what we have at home,
and what we need.
And what we pasted in the grocery iles to that point.
I am constantly comparing and reminding myself almost subconsciously.
Except when things are on paper.
G

Basically like the title states. Do you think that you're more observant/perceptive than someone without ADHD?

I say yes. It seems like I notice or pick up on things much, much more than people I know who don't have ADHD.

And the busier the environment, the more of a gap there seems to be between me and them.

YES, I am very perceptive, I dream things before they happen..Scary sometimes.
I can see through people and figure them out before most, and I'm typically correct.
I don't like telling people about it because they'll think your nuts. My husband always
says, your wierd and laughs..but he's noticed now that I'm typically right so he has started
listening to me more =)

Ok.

So. After having an experience on the bart train today... ending up being a target of an intended mugging. Course nothing bad happened, all was averted. Sometimes I don't interpret right, but many times I do....

I am very observant and very intuitive when it comes to body language and odd (could be threatening or non threatening) behavior.

Ok.

So. After having an experience on the bart train today... ending up being a target of an intended mugging. Course nothing bad happened, all was averted. Sometimes I don't interpret right, but many times I do....

I am very observant and very intuitive when it comes to body language and odd (could be threatening or non threatening) behavior.

One day I was on a skytrain and someguy started playing patty cake.
Everybody was watching and laughing.
It was all a bit to much.
So I looked around the train and noticed two guys that where not paying attention to the patty caker.
So I followed them when two of them got of the train.
And then the patty caker came back the from the other way.
They where pick pocketer working together.
They never new I was there.
And the other people taking the skytrain didn't know they where pick pocketers.

G

I'm really observant about SOME things, and totally oblivious to other things.

For example, I pick up on nonverbal cues and body language really well. I'm very good at inferring the subtext and reading between the lines -- to the point where people think I'm psychic or something.

But if you put the salt shaker six inches away from where it's supposed to be on the counter -- I WILL NOT SEE IT. And I will get REALLY annoyed at whoever keeps hiding the damn salt!

One day I was on a skytrain and someguy started playing patty cake.
Everybody was watching and laughing.
It was all a bit to much.
So I looked around the train and noticed two guys that where not paying attention to the patty caker.
So I followed them when two of them got of the train.
And then the patty caker came back the from the other way.
They where pick pocketer working together.
They never new I was there.
And the other people taking the skytrain didn't know they where pick pocketers.

GA good friend told me I would never survive in Italy where the pick-pockets distract people with babies while another picks their pocket.

A good friend told me I would never survive in Italy where the pick-pockets distract people with babies while another picks their pocket.


Another one is going up to people with the child holding a sign and the parent standing infront,so the passaenger looks toward the mother as guidance in that situation,which seems to be harder for nt's....the child dips into the pocket...

I saw it...can not remember if i said something...something was bound to have happened if i remember a bit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HazQlWgdzg

Fagin and the Artful Dodger are two of my favorite characters. And I love that version of Oliver!

Personally, I do tend to notice things that others don't - but I also tend to miss the obvious. Depends a lot on the situation, I suppose.

ditto

I think most people (NTs or w/e you want to call them) will notice things that are salient. Whereas I notice changes/ things that don't 'fit' but they may be inconspicuous to others. When someone makes subtle changes to their appearance I know exactly what it is. I notice when someone is quietly uncomfortable, in a room full of people, when everyone else is distracted by their conversations.

A good friend told me I would never survive in Italy where the pick-pockets distract people with babies while another picks their pocket.

Its very interesting,
To hear what people think people with AD(H)D can do and can't do.
The closest people to me who understand that I have AD(H)D.
Still make comments that are not totally correct.
And don't see where the AD(H)D really affects me.
Unless the person has AD(H)D.
I don't think they could possibly understand all.
G

Basically like the title states. Do you think that you're more observant/perceptive than someone without ADHD?

I say yes. It seems like I notice or pick up on things much, much more than people I know who don't have ADHD.

And the busier the environment, the more of a gap there seems to be between me and them.

I think it might be the other way around. I think if one is more observant- then one is going to have more trouble staying on track and dealing with the item that is presented as allegedly the thing to which you should be directing your attention.

I call ADD-TMIS- too much information syndrome
I've always been very observant, and people have always been frustrated that that observational facility is not always matched with outcomes commensurate with it.

I think it might be the other way around. I think if one is more observant- then one is going to have more trouble staying on track and dealing with the item that is presented as allegedly the thing to which you should be directing your attention.

I call ADD-TMIS- too much information syndrome
I've always been very observant, and people have always been frustrated that that observational facility is not always matched with outcomes commensurate with it.

I agree with you. I don't always act upon whatever I notice - more likely than not it goes into wherever it is that the other million ideas or things I pick up go.

The weird looks from people when I blurt out "Hey, did you notice" are worth it sometimes, though.

Its very interesting,
To hear what people think people with AD(H)D can do and can't do.
The closest people to me who understand that I have AD(H)D.
Still make comments that are not totally correct.
And don't see where the AD(H)D really affects me.
Unless the person has AD(H)D.
I don't think they could possibly understand all.
GMy friend's comment about babies and pick-pockets in Italy had nothing at all to do with ADHD; I adore babies and will drop everything to admire one. :o

Hey the Audience,
Changed their avatar, from a little white bird.
To a different little white bird.
And the little red berry.
Is being eaten by the second little white bird.
Its all over the birds face now.
G

Its very interesting,
To hear what people think people with AD(H)D can do and can't do.
The closest people to me who understand that I have AD(H)D.
Still make comments that are not totally correct.
And don't see where the AD(H)D really affects me.
Unless the person has AD(H)D.
I don't think they could possibly understand all.
G

I think it's what makes us wildcards...

You want that "joker" in your hand ;)

I think it's what makes us wildcards...

You want that "joker" in your hand ;)

Very Interesting thought.
It would be great advertise this advantage.
Simply because this would describe my position.
At most of my jobs...

My new ideas and new visions sometimes can be a great advantage to the employer.

My favorite bosses have been people who reconize these talents.

And help me in my weaksnesses.

My worst bosses are those who don't.

Best of all, is when I develope the maturity to deal with being my own boss.
By understanding my own strengths and weaknesses.
And find people to help fill my deficiency.

And become the Ace!
G

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset" class=alt2>Originally Posted by FunnyHead http://www.addforums.com/forums/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=913713#post913713)
Its very interesting,
To hear what people think people with AD(H)D can do and can't do.
The closest people to me who understand that I have AD(H)D.
Still make comments that are not totally correct.
And don't see where the AD(H)D really affects me.
Unless the person has AD(H)D.
I don't think they could possibly understand all.
G
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
My friend's comment about babies and pick-pockets in Italy had nothing at all to do with ADHD; I adore babies and will drop everything to admire one. :o



Its also very interesting,
It is my error,
To think I know what any person thinks or feels.
And make judgement, about what another thinks is right or wrong.
And make comments that are not totally correct.
And realize I don't know the whole picture.

There is always at least two ways to look at everything.
Thanks for the reminder.
G
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Funnyhead, your comment was not inappropriate, given where we are discussing it. You made me think for a moment because the friend that I mentioned has known me for so many years, even before my diagnosis, so she doesn't really think ADHD when she thinks of something I would do; it's just me.

Funnyhead, your comment was not inappropriate, given where we are discussing it. You made me think for a moment because the friend that I mentioned has known me for so many years, even before my diagnosis, so she doesn't really think ADHD when she thinks of something I would do; it's just me.


All in all ,
I'm glad that you pointed out the difference.
Because I was inappropriately painting everyone with the same brush.
G

All in all ,
I'm glad that you pointed out the difference.
Because I was inappropriately painting everyone with the same brush.
G

For how important that is...
Your original thought I feel has merit, tho perhaps stemmed from an incorrect assumption. To me it read like people have either incorrectly over or under estimated your abilities.

I think it's what makes us wildcards...

You want that "joker" in your hand ;)

I still remember the stunned look on everyone' faces when in my first few weeks as a qualified doctor I pulled out the most incredibly obscure diagnosis on a 19 year old girl who had collapsed in the emergency room with a very low blood pressure.

Pure blooded attention difference.

The funny thing was I was forced to look wide as my stethoscope was useless. I had seen a rock band the night before- and couldn't hear a thing except tinnitus.