Social media is absolutely full of useless entertainment, so I think it’s safe to say that we are all more distracted by our cellphones than we’d like to admit. Within the blink of an eye, hours can pass. Anyone can experience this, including people with adult onset ADHD. So, here we go ! The best ADHD apps
Although apps can’t magically cure or make ADHD go away, they can assist people with ADHD manage some of life’s most stressful situations, enhancing overall quality of life with a few small adjustments.
There are a ton of apps available that can benefit people with ADHD, but there are just as many that weren’t created with this condition in mind yet can offer a ton of value.
We compiled a list of applications that do just that! And on top of that, why not take advantage of technology instead of seeing it as a distraction ? It’s simple to transform your phone into a tool for productivity tasks and focus.
What is ADHD?
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and it is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a child’s ability to pay attention and control impulsive behaviors.
Children with ADHD often have trouble focusing on complete tasks and can be easily distracted, they may also exhibit hyperactive and impulsive behaviors, such as fidgeting, interrupting others, or acting without thinking.
ADHD is a complex condition that can be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and brain development factors. It is a common condition affecting about 5-10% of school-aged children, with boys being more likely to be diagnosed than girls.
If a parent is concerned about their child having ADHD, it’s important to seek a proper evaluation from a healthcare provider. A healthcare professional can help diagnose ADHD through a comprehensive evaluation that includes a medical history, a physical examination, and behavioral assessments. The diagnosis process also involves ruling out any other potential causes for the child’s symptoms, such as anxiety or depression.
Once diagnosed, children with ADHD can benefit from a combination of treatment approaches, including medication, behavioral therapy, and lifestyle changes, such as a structured routine and regular exercise. With proper treatment and support, children with ADHD can learn to manage their symptoms and succeed in school and in their daily lives.
It’s important to remember that each child with ADHD is unique and their treatment plan should be tailored to their specific needs. As a doctor, I would encourage parents to work closely with their healthcare provider to develop the best plan for their child.
HippoRoutine picks off the best ADHD apps for 2023
Best overall
SimpleMind Pro is a mind mapping software that allows users to create visual mind maps for organizing and structuring information. It offers features such as custom styling options, import/export options, and the ability to add attachments and multimedia elements to mind maps. SimpleMind Pro is available for both desktop and mobile devices and is designed for individuals, teams, and businesses.
Mind mapping apps can be a useful tool for children with ADHD, as they provide visual aids to help children understand and retain information, as well as improved organization and flexibility in adding, rearranging and modifying information.
Mind mapping can also be a fun and creative activity for children with ADHD, encouraging them to think outside the box and come up with new ideas and connections. Additionally, mind mapping can act as a therapeutic tool, reducing stress and anxiety by organizing and clarifying thoughts.
By incorporating mind mapping into their routine, children with ADHD can benefit from the many positive outcomes it can bring, such as improved focus, organization, creativity, and reduced stress.
This tool helps me create logical branches, and helps me remember better. It’s a tool I use almost weekly, with my studies, with books or anything that I deem I should remember. It also helps me delegating important memory.
Best for taking notes
Notes app on Apple devices is a note-taking app that comes pre-installed on all Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
The Notes app allows users to create text notes, add photos, and make checklists. It also offers features such as the ability to format text, add tables, and create folders for organizing notes and to do lists.
The notes can be synced across all of your Apple devices using iCloud, making it easy to access your notes from anywhere. The Notes app is a simple and convenient tool for individuals looking for a basic note-taking solution.
Taking notes and organizing them can have many benefits for individuals with ADHD. By capturing information in a structured manner, individuals with ADHD can improve their focus and concentration, leading to better memory recall and increased organization.
Writing down information can also help clarify thoughts and ideas, making it easier to process and understand. In addition, taking and organizing notes can lead to improved time management, as individuals with ADHD can prioritize tasks more effectively.
These benefits can result in reduced stress and increased productivity for individuals with ADHD.
Therefore, taking notes and organizing them can be a valuable tool for individuals with ADHD to help manage their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.
The Notes app, also has an extensive search function, and can help assign tasks to one of multiple members for which the list is shared with. Its search function makes finding one of the easiest apps for adhd.
Best for To do lists
Todoist is a popular task and project management tool that allows users to create and manage to-do lists, projects, and tasks.
It offers features such as the ability to set due dates and reminders, assign tasks to team members, and collaborate on projects in real-time.
Todoist also integrates with a variety of productivity tools, including calendar apps, email clients, and browser extensions. It is available on multiple platforms, including desktop, web, and mobile, and is designed for individuals, teams, and businesses.
Todoist is known for its clean and intuitive interface, making it a popular choice for individuals and organizations looking for a simple and effective task management solution.
The app can also help get to do lists organized, setting time on task, has mobile notifications, and can help set life changing habits.
Best to Focus with Music
Focus@Will is a music app that provides scientifically optimized music to help users increase their focus and productivity.
The app offers a wide range of background music genres, including classical, ambient, and nature sounds, that have been specifically designed to improve focus and reduce distractions and help combat ADHD symptoms. It can help adults with ADHD by providing a calming background noise to help them stay focused on their work and increase their productivity.
Best for Focus
Forest is an app that gamifies staying focused and helps users build good habits by growing virtual trees as they stay focused on their work.
The app uses positive reinforcement to encourage users to stay focused, and users can track their progress and see the virtual forest grow over time.
Forest can help adults with ADHD by providing a fun and engaging way to stay focused and on task, as well as reinforcing positive habits and increasing motivation.
This app furthers helps when you have a hard time initiating tasks and can help with a streamlined to do list. Furthermore, it has a very user friendly interface.
Best for anxiety
Headspace is a mindfulness and meditation app and probably one of my favourity. I use it in my personal life, I listen to it in the morning, in the evenings to fall a sleeep and I love its visually appealing interface.
Headspace offers guided meditations, sleep exercises, and mindfulness sessions to help users manage stress and improve their overall well-being.
The app is designed to help users develop a daily meditation practice and provides a range of programs and exercises that are easy to follow and accessible to everyone. Headspace can help adults with ADHD by reducing stress and anxiety, improving focus and concentration, and providing a sense of calm and balance.
Best for starting
Momentum is a productivity app that helps users stay focused and organized by providing daily goals, focus reminders, and habit tracking features.
The app provides a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy for users to stay on top of their tasks and reach their goals.
Momentum can help adults with ADHD by providing structure and organization to their daily routine, reducing distractions and helping them stay focused on the task at hand. Ultimately it’s a great app, that helps with even the simplest tasks.
I have used it to to creating task lists, create to do lists, and understand my own telemetry, i.e. how many tasks have I achieved over the day, how productive have I been, etc.
Best for ambient noises
Noisli is a background noise and color generator app that helps create a personalized environment to improve focus and reduce distractions.
It offers a variety of sounds such as nature, rain, fire, and white noise that can be mixed and adjusted to suit individual preferences.
The app also has a color generator feature that allows users to choose a calming color palette to match their background noise.
Noisli can be used on desktop and mobile devices and is helpful for those with ADHD as it provides a relaxing and customized atmosphere, which can aid in reducing distractions and improving concentration.
Frequently asked questions?
How can apps help with ADHD?
Organization apps can be extremely beneficial for individuals with ADHD as they can help with managing tasks and information, reducing distractions, and improving focus.
These apps provide a centralized place to store and manage to-do lists, appointments, and important information, reducing the risk of forgetfulness and disorganization. The use of reminders, alarms, and alerts can also help keep users on track and on schedule.
Additionally, many of these apps offer a visual representation of tasks and information, which can be especially helpful for individuals with ADHD as it can improve memory retention and recall. Overall, organization apps can provide a structured and organized environment, which can greatly benefit individuals with ADHD in managing their daily tasks and responsibilities.
What are the treatment options for ADHD?
The treatment options for ADHD include both medication and behavioral therapy. Some common medications used for treating ADHD include stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall, as well as non-stimulant medications such as Strattera. These medications help to increase the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, improving focus, reducing impulsiveness, and calming hyperactivity. Ultimately, if need be, only medical professionals can help with medication and treatment schedules.
Behavioral therapy can also be an effective treatment option for ADHD, and may include techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, and family therapy. These therapies can help individuals with ADHD develop coping strategies, build social skills, and improve self-esteem. Additionally, they can help individuals better understand their condition and learn how to manage their symptoms.
It’s important to note that every individual with ADHD is unique and what works for one person may not work for another. As such, treatment plans should be tailored to the specific needs of each individual and may involve a combination of medication and behavioral therapy. Additionally, the treatment plan should be regularly reviewed and adjusted as needed to ensure that it remains effective.
How can you cope with ADHD?
There are several coping skills that individuals with ADHD can use to manage their symptoms and improve their daily functioning. Some of these coping skills include:
- Exercise: Regular exercise can help improve focus, reduce impulsiveness, and calm hyperactivity.
- Time management: Using a planner or calendar to keep track of appointments and to-do lists can help individuals with ADHD stay organized and on schedule.
- Prioritization: Focusing on the most important tasks and breaking them down into smaller, manageable steps can help individuals with ADHD stay on track.
- Mindfulness: Mindfulness techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing, can help individuals with ADHD reduce stress and improve focus.
- Visual aids: Using visual aids, such as color-coded notes, to-do lists, or charts, can help individuals with ADHD remember information and stay organized.
- Break time: Taking regular breaks throughout the day to move around, stretch, or simply rest the mind can help individuals with ADHD recharge and refocus.
- Healthy habits: Maintaining a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol can help improve symptoms of ADHD.
- Therapy: Working with a therapist can help individuals with ADHD develop coping strategies, build social skills, and improve self-esteem.
It’s important to find what works best for each individual with ADHD, as different coping skills may have different levels of effectiveness. Additionally, it’s important to remember that everyone’s experience with ADHD is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another.
