Pulling back from an impulsive commitment
“I said yes when I should have checked my capacity first. I am not going to be able to do this after all — I am sorry for the back-and-forth.”
See this in tonen
tonenCommunication support for adults with ADHD
ADHD makes real-time conversation difficult — impulsive replies, lost threads, forgetting what you planned to say. tonen gives you the words before the moment, not during it.
7-day free trial. iOS only. No credit card required.
ADHD communication challenges are executive function challenges
Impulsive replies, forgetting your key points mid-sentence, over-committing and then needing to back out, messages that land blunter than intended — these are not personality problems. They are what happens when working memory, impulse control, and verbal processing are all competing for limited executive bandwidth.
tonen reduces the real-time cognitive load of conversations by giving you prepared, tested language — so less of your executive function budget goes on finding words.
What tonen helps with
Stopping the impulsive reply
When you feel the urge to fire back something you will regret, having a script ready redirects that energy into something useful.
Organising thoughts before a meeting
ADHD makes verbal planning hard under pressure. Prepare your key points in advance instead of winging it and forgetting half of what you meant to say.
Difficult conversations you keep avoiding
ADHD-related avoidance makes hard conversations pile up. tonen gives you ready words so the barrier to starting is lower.
Following up without sounding passive aggressive
Find neutral check-in scripts that do not accidentally sound like a chase or a complaint.
Setting limits when you have over-committed
Scripts for pulling back from something you agreed to impulsively — without burning the relationship.
Checking tone before you send
ADHD directness can read as bluntness in writing. Check how your message lands before it lands on someone else.
Scripts from tonen
Real wording for the ADHD communication moments that tend to go wrong. Each comes with tone variations in the app.
Asking for more time before responding
“I want to give this a proper answer. Can I come back to you tomorrow rather than replying right now?”
See this in tonenFollowing up on something without sounding pushy
“Just checking in on this — no rush, just wanted to make sure it did not get lost.”
See this in tonenExplaining that you need written instructions
“I process things better when I have them in writing. Could you send a quick summary after we talk?”
See this in tonenApologising for interrupting
“I jumped in before you finished — sorry about that. What were you saying?”
See this in tonenEnding a conversation that is going on too long
“I need to get back to something — can we pick this up later? I want to give it proper attention.”
See this in tonenWhy it helps with ADHD specifically
Scripts reduce working memory load — the words are already there when your brain is scattered
Tone check catches the bluntness that ADHD directness can accidentally create in writing
Private rehearsal lets you run through a conversation as many times as you need before the real thing
Try tonen free for 7 days
Full access to all 188 scripts, tone guidance, private practice, and the Calm Kit. No credit card required.
iOS only. Android coming soon.