eatingcereal wrote:
When I watch something I have to rewind the movie/ tv show a bunch of times because I always miss what other people are saying. I either get distracted by something in the background or I completely zone out. Usually I try and follow the dialogue and my mind will start to wonder somewhere else. By the time I try and pay attention to the dialogue again I'm so lost that I easily distract myself again. It's just a repetitive cycle. For instance when a show like The Wire moves in too many directions, I cannot follow it at all. There are just too many characters in too many gangs, with certain characters being snitches and others having grudges against one of their own, etc. I just get lost and forget the names of all the characters, who is related to who in what way, etc. I made a habit out of watching all movies with the dialogue on in order to help me follow the story better, but I'm trying to break it so I can work on improving my focus, if possible.
Also, if someone asks me about a movie I have trouble summarizing it. If I even try I end up sounding like an idiot who didn't even watch the movie. I'm not able to explain why X happened and how it caused Y, and then as a result you get Z. I just can't wrap the story up in a nice little package for someone. Also I have the same trouble connecting and stringing together thoughts in real conversation, unfortunately.
Is this strictly a problem on the autistic spectrum, an ADHD issue, or possibly both? Maybe Auditory Processing Disorder?
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Words: Sustained attention, ADHD Inattentive, central auditory processing disorder (CAPD), petit/absence/TLE/complex partial, brain injuries, sports concussions, and so on. Two books address what you write about: Nerves In Collision book by Walter C. Alvarez, M.D. (about Dilantin, etc.) and the How To (understand) Hyperactivity book (1981) about ADHD Inattentive by C. Thomas Wild (Tirend, NoDoz, Bonine, and so on). Other words: Working memory/short term memory, medium term memory, long term memory, sequencing, attention span (digit and word), distractible, distracted, thought, cognition processing, nutrition, modern nutrition, the old medicine - coffee/caffeine compounds (caffeine works for a few of those with ADHD better than Ritalin, other stronger stimulants/alerting agents), hidden food additives (very minor, minor, minor consideration today for only a handful of persons - perhaps 1 in 10,000 people/whatever - not a priority at all - opt for healthy, whole foods/pure water/clean air), executive function/executive dysfunction, and so forth. The two books (Alvarez, Wild) can provide insights (no cures).
18 Jan 2011, 2:12 am
