ADHD and Object Permanence: Why You’re Always Walking into Things

For people navigating life with ADHD, it can be common to experience an “out of sight, out of mind” perspective. This leads some people to wonder whether ADHD causes object permanence issues. ADHD can make it difficult to focus on something that’s not directly in front of you, but the relationship between ADHD and object permanence is more nuanced. 

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Let’s explore the link between object permanence and ADHD, examining how ADHD can influence your behaviour and perception of your environment. We’ll also discuss strategies for managing challenges related to object permanence.

What is Object Permanence?

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The meaning of object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not immediately visible to you. This is a crucial developmental milestone that infants typically reach in their first year of life. 

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Psychologist Jean Piaget developed the concept of object permanence in the 1960s. Piaget observed how babies reacted when a toy was shown and then hidden from them. Babies who had developed object permanence would continue to look for the toy, knowing it still exists.

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You can also apply object permanence with people. One illustration of this is through the game peek-a-boo. Babies may become confused and upset when their parent hides. These babies may not have developed object permanence, meaning they don’t understand that their parents have not disappeared forever. When their parent reveals themselves again, the babies are delighted.

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Another common concept is object constancy. Object constancy, a concept closely related to object permanence, is the ability to understand that objects maintain their identities and properties. For people, this means maintaining a consistent perception and connection with someone, even when you are apart or facing challenges or conflicts with them.

Do People With ADHD Lack Object Permanence?

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ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Everyday activities can seem like a series of frustrating obstacles when you have ADHD. Walking into things, misplacing items, and forgetting to complete tasks are all common challenges.

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For many people with ADHD, it can feel like once a task or object has left your mind, it has disappeared. However, this isn’t the exact same as object permanence. For example, when you forget where you put your phone, you know your phone isn’t gone forever—but it may have left your awareness.

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Object permanence is not a recognized symptom of ADHD, however, forgetfulness is a common ADHD symptom. ADHD impacts working memory, so it can be difficult to retain and recall information about objects or tasks.

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People with ADHD often need a sensory cue to remember things. This is why some people use the term “object permanence” to describe how people with ADHD can forget about objects, tasks, or items that are not immediately visible. This can lead to a variety of daily challenges.

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When your mind shifts to a new task, you may not be focused on your environment or mindful of your body. ADHD can lead to difficulties with spatial awareness and navigation, which can result in bumping or walking into things.

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In addition to spatial awareness and navigation, some other challenges that can be thought of as ADHD object permanence issues are:

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• Buying groceries or products you already have at home.
• Forgetting to finish household chores or pay bills. 
• Forgetting about a task when distracted.
• Not remembering to connect with loved ones who are far away (an example of object permanence with people).
• Frequently misplacing items.

Coping With Object Permanence Issues

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An “out of sight, out of mind” perspective can make it difficult to carry out daily responsibilities and remember your commitments. This can affect everything from your productivity at work to your relationships.

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Colleagues may become frustrated when you don’t complete the tasks you said you would. You may have trouble managing your responsibilities, like taking medication or paying bills. Forgetting about commitments can also strain relationships, and some may misinterpret your actions as a lack of care. 

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While ADHD and object permanence issues can be tough to overcome, with the right strategies and tools, you can learn to better remember and stay on top of tasks and responsibilities.

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Here are a few tips that may help:

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• Create a structured daily routine to help you stay on task.
• Break large tasks into smaller, more manageable subtasks.
• Add events and appointments to your calendar as soon as you schedule them.
• Explore working with a coach to enhance your executive functioning.
• Create visual cues like post-it notes and calendars to remind you of upcoming tasks. Put up photos of loved ones to remind you to stay connected with them.
• Set up recurring reminders for tasks like taking your medication, paying bills, or calling loved ones.
• Don’t open text messages until you have the time and bandwidth to respond.
• Choose a designated spot to place essential items like your medication, keys, and phone.

Find ADHD Support with Phare Counselling

ADHD forgetfulness, informally thought of as ADHD object permanence, can be a difficult symptom to manage. However, you don’t have to deal with it alone. A trained ADHD therapist can help you better navigate day-to-day challenges. 

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Experiences of ADHD can vary so it’s important to develop a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. Not sure where to start? At Phare Counselling, we will match you with a licensed therapist who can help you manage ADHD symptoms. Whether you want the flexibility of online therapy or the routine of in-person therapy, we have a range of options available. Book your free consultation today!

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Author Bio:

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Wendy Chan is a writer and editor who is passionate about health, wellness, and self-care. She has worked in marketing and communications for nearly a decade, creating educational content for brands and companies across Canada. Since 2020, she has been a writer and researcher for Phare Counselling.

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Wendy specializes in authoring informative and accessible content on mental health, wellbeing, higher education, and technology. She holds a BFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia. You can find her in Vancouver or Toronto, depending on the weather.

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