Working memory
Short answer
Working memory is the ability to hold information in mind for a short time while you use it, such as keeping a phone number in your head while you dial or rearranging a to-do list mentally. It is one of the core executive functions. Trouble with it is common in discussions of ADHD, but it has many possible causes and does not indicate ADHD by itself.
Working memory is different from the memory you use to recall last summer's vacation. It is the short-term workspace where you keep something active while you do something with it.
A mental notepad, not a filing cabinet
Long-term memory stores things. Working memory juggles them. When the juggling drops a ball, you might walk into a room and forget why, or lose the second half of a spoken instruction while still processing the first.
Small moments where it matters
- Following multi-step directions someone gave you aloud.
- Keeping track of what a colleague said while forming your reply.
- Remembering the last item on a shopping list you did not write down.
- Picking up a task where you left off after an interruption.
Hypothetically, a person might read the same paragraph three times because by the end they have lost the beginning. That experience is frustrating, and it is also very common when tired or distracted.
Working memory and ADHD
The ASRS v1.1 Screener does not test working memory. It asks how often certain things happened in your life over six months. Clinicians sometimes use separate cognitive tests when working memory is a specific question, though that is a decision for the professional involved.
Reasons other than ADHD
Lack of sleep, stress, low mood, anxiety and many medical issues can make working memory feel unreliable. A busy, interruption-heavy environment strains it for nearly everyone. Forgetting things is not evidence of any particular condition on its own.
It also varies by moment. Most people find their working memory feels sharper when they are rested and interested, and shakier when they are hungry, rushed or worried. Noticing when it fails can be more informative than noticing that it fails.
General strategies people use
Many people lighten the load by moving information out of their heads: writing steps down, asking for instructions in writing, and keeping one running list instead of several. These are general organization habits, not treatment.
If forgetfulness is new, sudden or getting steadily worse, mention it to a healthcare provider soon rather than waiting, since that pattern deserves its own check.
A starting point for your next step.
Start the free ASRS v1.1 screenerFrequently asked questions
Is poor working memory a sign of ADHD?
It can be part of the picture some people with ADHD describe, but it also has many other causes, including sleep loss and stress. It does not point to ADHD by itself.
How is working memory different from short-term memory?
Short-term memory holds information briefly. Working memory holds it and lets you do something with it, like reorder, calculate or plan.
Does the ADHDFalcon screener test working memory?
No. Neither the ASRS v1.1 Screener nor the Attention Profile is a working memory test.
Sources
Source check: 2026-10-28. No medical review has occurred.
- Diamond A. Executive functions. Annual Review of Psychology. 2013;64:135-168.
- CHADD, About ADHD
- National Institute of Mental Health, "ADHD in Adults: 4 Things to Know"
Published 2026-10-28. Factual source check: ADHDFalcon editorial team, factual source check, 2026-10-28. No medical review has occurred.