Do You Have Trouble Remembering the Answers to Questions You've Just Asked?

When I developed a thyroid condition, I began having short-term memory problems. It drives me crazy, because I've always been so on top of things, and now I just feel like I'm not. Ugh. It has gotten a little better with thyroid medication, but I still don't feel normal. The best I can do is try to minimize distractions. If I'm doing something else (cooking dinner, or driving), I know I am not going to be as attentive to a conversation as if I were just sitting there doing nothing but having the conversation.

I've learned that when I don't remember the answer to my question it's because I haven't focused on the answer. My mind is busy trying to do too many things at once. I force myself to stop thinking about other things and focus just on the answer. Then I repeat the answer to myself several times. If it's something I have to remember later, such as the time for an appointment or the day someone else has an activity, I always write it on the calendar. I also try to keep a notebook close by so that I can write other stuff down tho I'm not very consistent in doing that.

Me too..no add here. When I'm not fully listening....I won't remember the question. When I have a million things on my mind and doing many things...I'll ask a kid a question..,they answer but I don't remember and I'll ask again a few minutes later.

I think it's just how very distracted we are with so many things going on all the time. If I'm really paying attention I'm ok.

I would think focusing and repeating the question or answer right back to them would solve it.

Umm...I am sorry, what was the question?

Yes, I have the same problem!

I don't have ADD I however have a frontal lobe brain injury - it's been almost 10 years since I got the darn thing and ya know what I do? I write things down constantly. This doesn't mean I still don't forget and don't always remember to look at what I've written but it has cut down on frustrations greatly.

I have some serious symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity, and while I don't forget the answers to my questions, I often forget to DO things even when I've started doing them (like forgetting what I walked downstairs to do by the time I get down there).

As a teacher, I work with many students with ADHD and we use many strategies to help ideas/answers/questions "stick."

It might be helpful if you paraphrase the answer back "so you're telling me ..." The act of paraphrasing makes you process the information differently and can make it more difficult to forget. Plus, you're extending the time you're spending thinking about the answer holding it in your working memory which makes it more likely to make it into your longer term memory as well.

I hope this helps.

I always do! .... well that explains why... I have ADD too and Im having to stop and think hard its so frustrating to me! God I hope you can find a way to help because I would like to know too

Understanding the way the brain is thought to work will help-the brain is designed to forget-otherwise, quite early on, it would be too crowded to remember one...more...bit...of information. You don't have ADD-you are under too much stress trying to manage the minutiae of everyone else's life. Take care and tell everyone to handle their own affairs-or at the very least, hand you a daily itinerary so you can organize your day! xo!

I don't have ADD and it happens all of the time. Half the time I can't remember if they answered and the other half I can't remember if I asked. Mine however, just humor me.

Sorry not much help here.

Perhaps because the question was not really that important.