Yes, it is not uncommon for people with ADHD/ADD to take days to respond to text messages or other forms of communication. ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) can affect a person's executive functions, including time management, organization, and attention, which can lead to delays in responding to messages.
There are several reasons why this might happen:
Distractibility: People with ADHD may get easily distracted by other tasks or activities, causing them to forget or postpone responding to messages.
Time Perception: ADHD can impact a person's sense of time, making it difficult to gauge how much time has passed since they received the message.
Hyperfocus: While ADHD is often associated with distractibility, some individuals with ADHD may experience "hyperfocus," where they become intensely focused on a particular activity, losing track of time and other tasks, including responding to messages.
Executive Functioning Challenges: ADHD can affect executive functions, such as planning, organizing, and prioritizing tasks. Responding to messages might not be prioritized in their minds.
Overwhelm: People with ADHD may feel overwhelmed by a constant stream of messages and find it challenging to respond to all of them promptly.
Forgetfulness: Memory difficulties are common in ADHD, which can lead to forgetting about messages or intending to respond later but then forgetting to do so.
It's essential to understand that this behavior is not intentional or a sign of disrespect. It's a symptom of the neurodevelopmental disorder. Individuals with ADHD may benefit from strategies to help manage their communication, such as setting reminders, using organizational tools, or informing close friends and family about their communication challenges.
If you are communicating with someone who has ADHD and notice delays in their responses, try to be patient and understanding. If necessary, have an open and non-judgmental conversation with them about their communication preferences and needs, so you can find a mutually acceptable way of staying in touch.