Working memory is the mental workspace that holds and manipulates information over seconds to minutes: remembering instructions while following them, keeping a phone number in mind, or tracking a conversation while forming a reply.
Weak working memory is one of the most consistent findings in ADHD and explains everyday problems like walking into a room and forgetting why. Strategies such as externalising memory through lists and reminders help, and clinicians assess working memory patterns during a structured ADHD assessment.