Scott Maclean, ADHD Diagnosis and Assistive Technology

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/01/20

Scott Maclean discussed his journey with ADHD, diagnosed in his early 50’s, and how it has shaped his life, relationships, and coping strategies. He shared insights into developing the Visual Timer, a tool addressing time management, procrastination, and task overwhelm, which integrates neuroscience principles. Maclean emphasized the need for practical solutions for ADHD and broader challenges like procrastination in fast-paced societies. He expressed interest in collaborating with researchers, creating a podcast, or writing a book to share his experiences. Maclean highlighted the importance of breaking down neuroscience into actionable tips and tools to help individuals manage their lives effectively.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Today, we’re here with Scott Maclean. We will discuss a few issues that are quite prevalent in society today. These challenges may not be exacerbated by technology. Still, regardless of their source, people often experience them and cope in various ways. I want to start by asking about your life journey into middle age and discovering that you have ADHD. What were the coping mechanisms you used before your diagnosis, and how have things changed since gaining that knowledge?

Scott Maclean: Yes, it’s interesting. I recently turned 55 and was only recently diagnosed with ADHD. The diagnosis has shifted my perspective and changed my life significantly. It has allowed me to understand many things I couldn’t figure out before—how my brain works, how it operates differently, and the coping mechanisms I developed to fit into society. That adjustment process has been fascinating.

The reality is that my brain doesn’t function the same way as most people’s. For a long time, I internalized that difference as a personal flaw. I thought I wasn’t good enough. I had trouble concentrating, procrastinated constantly, avoided tasks, and often overcompensated in social situations. I struggled with impulse control issues typical of ADHD, which sometimes made social interactions even harder. 

Since being diagnosed and starting medication, I’ve been able to reflect on the neuroscience behind ADHD. I’ve done much research and studying to understand how the brain works for neurodivergent individuals. This learning process has allowed me to revisit my past, understand why I behaved the way I did, and explore what changes I need to make to improve my life moving forward.

As part of that journey, I began looking for tools and resources to help people with ADHD. As a father of two young children, I’ve faced significant challenges with time management and routines for myself and my family. Simple tasks like getting the kids to bed, leaving the house on time, or encouraging them to do homework became major stress points. I tried using timers and other available tools, but they weren’t effective enough. This led me to explore creating better solutions.

As a result of my research—particularly into neuroscience—I developed the Visual Timer, which launched about eight weeks ago in October on Amazon. It’s currently the number one new release in its category and is selling well. This success suggests that many others face similar challenges with time management, focus, procrastination, and task overwhelm, and they are searching for tools to help them navigate these issues.

Jacobsen: When people face task overwhelm, do they sometimes resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse or overusing prescription medications beyond what doctors recommend?

Maclean: Yes, that does seem to happen, unfortunately, for some individuals dealing with the struggles of ADHD.

I can now draw a direct line between many of the challenges in my life—like my marriage breaking down, career inconsistencies, and general instability—and my undiagnosed ADHD. What came with that realization was an understanding of my codependency. After my marriage broke down, I began to see how ADHD had shaped my coping mechanisms, including my choice of a partner.

I ended up in a codependent marriage because I had convinced myself that I wasn’t able to cope on my own. I believed my brain wasn’t working the “correct” way. So, my initial coping mechanism was to find a partner who could take care of me. It wasn’t a disability, per se—I was a fairly normal, functioning person, and so was she. But from a psychological perspective, there was clear codependency. She was very control-oriented—an alpha female—and I was happy to let her take the reins on day-to-day tasks.

On the surface, I appeared to be functioning normally. But as with many relationships, there was an imbalance. That dependency model ultimately created problems. When the marriage ended, I panicked because I realized I had to take care of myself—and, on top of that, become a single dad to two children.

During that time, I was self-medicating with alcohol, which became dangerous and psychologically damaging. I started seeing psychologists and counsellors, reading self-help books, and listening to podcasts to understand what was happening. Everywhere I turned, though, I was treated for depression.

I even asked psychologists directly if they thought I might have ADHD or another mental health condition. Still, they consistently told me, “No, you don’t have it.” This went on for years.

Eventually, I gained control of my drinking and have been sober ever since. Sobriety gave me the mental clarity to revisit the issue and challenge the medical professionals. I returned to my doctor and said, “Listen, something isn’t right. Despite what everyone is telling me, there’s something else going on.”

Finally, I got a referral to see a psychiatrist. It took months to get an appointment because psychiatrists are so busy, which says a lot about the state of mental health care in society.

When I finally saw the psychiatrist, she had a checklist of ten items he looked for in diagnosing ADHD. She told me, “You check off eight of these, so you have ADHD.” From there, we quickly moved into discussions about treatment.

It was only after this diagnosis that the doors opened for me. I began to understand what ADHD is, what it means for me, and how I can manage it moving forward.

I went into the intellectual side of it as much as possible with my ADHD brain. Fortunately for me—despite the misfortune of not being diagnosed earlier—the Internet, as you put it, seems to be everywhere. There’s a wealth of information out there.

There are also many products claiming to help with ADHD. I explored them and thought, “That’s not going to work for me,” or I tried them, and they didn’t work. This was mostly because I’m visual, as many people are. A common statistic floating around the Internet is that 65% of people are visual learners.

But with ADHD, my brain was moving at such a fast pace that I couldn’t focus for long periods. I needed to understand this to break things down and find better solutions. Otherwise, I was scared of living a life that felt less than it could be—or worse, being tempted back into self-medication, which I knew was highly dangerous.

Jacobsen: How many prototypes did you go through when you started developing your product?

Maclean: The process took over 18 months since I hand-drew my idea on paper. Looking back now, it’s fascinating how much effort goes into turning an idea into reality.

To answer your question, I went through three physical prototypes. The first was a non-working, 3D-printed model to determine the size and shape of the screen. From there, we began developing actual working models and refining them. Beyond those were countless digital or hand-drawn iterations and documented concept versions.

Interestingly, despite my lack of artistic skills, my first drawing contained all the core functionality I wanted. Later, I used AI tools, like MidJourney, to finalize the design.

Jacobsen: How does your product’s timing and colouring system anchor executive function? How does it help users stay engaged or relaxed?

Maclean: It’s the only timer on the market with a 360-degree LED light system synchronizing with an audible chime and a high-definition LCD countdown screen. These three elements work together seamlessly.

The second important feature is the “first and final warning” system, which alerts users as they approach the end of the allocated time. This combination helps the brain understand what’s happening and relax.

The cognitive aid comes from the constant colour and sound cues, which provide a structured framework for your task. Time becomes visualized and sits in your peripheral vision, so you don’t need to fixate on numbers counting down on a screen. The calm colours are a gentle reminder, signalling, “Hey, your time is managed—you can focus.”

You’re travelling relative to whatever time you’ve set. The colour and the sounds give you a subtly off-to-the-side anchor to time, reducing the demands on your brain and executive functions—such as working memory and sustained attention. This lets you focus more on the task because the timer provides constant, useful feedback.

For example, when the timer starts and glows bright green, it switches your brain on to the task.  As it transitions to yellow at 25% of the remaining time, it gives you a proactive way to check in on your progress. It’s a moment to ask yourself, “How am I doing? Do I need to speed up? Am I behind? Or can I relax because I’m doing well?”

That’s the first warning. 

At 5% of your time remaining, the colour changes to red, signalling the final warning. This is the timer telling your brain, “Hey, it’s time to wrap things up.” For people like me who struggle with task transitions, this advanced warning helps me mentally prepare to finish the task and move smoothly into the next one.

When the final alarm goes off, there’s no surprise—what I call “alarm shock”—because you’ve been gently prepared for it. This was a major challenge with other timers that all have one-off alarms.

For example, there’s a timer with a manual coloured disc that moves clockwise, much like a traditional analog clock. I’d set it, but my brain would quickly get distracted. I’d forget about the timer entirely until the alarm startled me. It didn’t offer any proactive cues or feedback.

Another issue was that while I might have understood the timer’s function, my kids didn’t. They couldn’t grasp what “15 minutes left” meant in the abstract. The timer was too passive, providing no engagement or useful warnings until the alarm went off. The key difference with my product is that the lights, sounds, and gradual warnings help the brain. They provide telecoms, subliminal, and sound cues to help the brain relax and stay on task. Knowing a break is approaching, I’m reassured I can stay focused on the task without constantly checking the timer.

Jacobsen: Looking ahead, what would you like to do regarding media? Would you consider starting a podcast, creating a YouTube channel, or conversing with professionals who research the areas you’ve explored—albeit informally—to refine your product further?

Maclean: Yes, I’d love to explore those avenues. I’ve become fascinated by the neuroscience behind visual learning, for example. I’m still developing my understanding of it. Still, I see great potential in collaborating with professionals to improve the product and help more people manage ADHD in various ways and degrees.

Having developed the product along these lines, there’s much more room for deeper understanding. As you mentioned, new information and research are constantly coming online, evolving our thinking. More effort should be put into supporting and advancing that work. I’m interested in collaborating with and supporting those out there doing this research.

At the same time, I’d like to tell my own story more than I currently do. Perhaps through writing a book or creating a podcast, I could reach others who are similar to me—or even those who aren’t but who face similar challenges with mental health or issues like procrastination and overwhelm.

Even for people who don’t consider themselves to have mental health challenges, many in our fast-paced Western world—whether in Australia, North America, Canada, or elsewhere—are overwhelmed by procrastination and the difficulty of focusing. That’s the problem I want to address. I’ve started with the timer, which has been very successful. It’s selling well and has a great story behind it.

But there’s so much more information and research that could be done. It could inform other products or raise awareness. By breaking down neuroscience into practical, easy-to-understand tips, we could help people manage their lives better. Whether through tools, products, or simple advice, there’s still much work to be done in this area.

Jacobsen: Scott, I want to thank you for your time today and your patience yesterday.

Maclean: No worries. I appreciate that, and I hope this helps make things easier for others struggling with similar issues.

Jacobsen: Absolutely. For what it’s worth, I understand this personally. At least one person close struggles with some of these challenges.

Maclean: That means a lot. 

Jacobsen: Thank you again for your time and for sharing your insights.

Maclean: You’re welcome. I appreciate your time and patience with me as well.

Jacobsen: Take care.

Maclean: Perfect. Thank you! Take care, buddy.

—

Back-to-school season is here, and with it comes the chaos of morning routines, homework battles, and bedtime struggles. Enter the VISUAL Timer—a simple yet revolutionary tool designed to simplify routines and eliminate nagging for parents everywhere.

Created by Scott Maclean, a single dad with ADHD, the VISUAL Timer uses 360° color-coded LED lights to guide children through tasks independently. Its engaging, neuroscience-backed design transforms time management into a fun and empowering experience for kids.

Why It’s Perfect for Back-to-School:

• Visual Progress Awareness: Color-coded cues (green, yellow, red) help kids stay on track without constant reminders.
• Stress-Free Transitions: Proactive warnings foster calm and cooperation during busy mornings and evenings.
• Neurodivergent-Friendly: Ideal for kids with ADHD or Autism, offering a non-disruptive way to manage time-related anxiety.
• Affordable: At under $30, it’s an accessible solution for every family.

Real-Life Impact:
Take 8-year-old Noah, who used to struggle with getting ready for school. With the VISUAL Timer, he now completes his tasks independently, guided by its intuitive color cues. His parents report calmer mornings and a happier household.

We’d love to provide you with a sample timer for review, high-res images, or an interview with Scott Maclean to dive deeper into the neuroscience and story behind this game-changing tool.

Let’s help your readers take the chaos out of back-to-school routines and bring calm to their homes!

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