Do People with ADD or ADHD Have Higher Intelligence Than the Average Person?

Why Would You Even Ask This?

It’s so prejudicial.

Simple Answer - Smart as a Whip and Then Some, or the Opposite

The two are entirely separate. Intelligence and ADHD don’t bear on each other at all.

However, we’ve taken intellect to a new level that neurotypicals couldn’t begin to fathom! Muwahahahahahaha!

Stories and Realities of Smart People with ADHD

I’ve met three individuals in my lifetime who have Einstein-level brains. The unfortunate side of being that smart comes with too much knowledge, which often leads to depression. Smart people are frequently the most depressed of us all, and sadly, these three individuals are no exception.

In my opinion, many more of us are diagnosed as depressed instead of recognizing that we have ADHD. Depression is a repercussion, not a primary condition.

Is that depressing, or am I being facetious?

Statistical Trends and Intelligence

Statistically, those diagnosed with ADHD tend to have a higher IQ than people with neuro-typical brains. However, this is subjective. You can be the most intelligent person in the world, but the neurodivergent brain with ADHD has to work much harder to apply that knowledge. We struggle to complete simple tasks that most do on “auto-pilot.”

Understanding the complexity of these conditions and their impacts is crucial. Labels change over time, as seen in the evolution of ADD to ADHD, and now to various types within the DSM 5. These changes reflect the evolving understanding of these conditions.

ADHD as a Misnomer

The term ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) was created for the DSM 3TR and dropped in favor of inattentive, hyperactive, and combined types of ADHD in the DSM 4. Now we are at the DSM 5 TR, with ongoing revisions and refinements in diagnosis criteria. The labels are shorthand for the American Psychiatric Association to describe pages of descriptive characteristics. ICD10 codes, associated with them, are from the World Health Organization and are used primarily by mental health practitioners for billing insurance purposes.

Strengths of ADHD Individuals

ADHD individuals tend to develop the following five characteristics:

A certain degree of empathy A certain level of grit and resilience Learn humility Self-forgiveness Self-knowledge and self-motivation, or how to create relationships and/or a community which cultivates and facilitates motivation

Dr. Hallowell also reframes the major aspects of ADHD as strengths:

Hyper-focus allows them to go deeper on passion and interests. This may be where that aspect of being smarter tends to shine the most. Discovering their passions and desires can help individuals learn where they already have unique natural magnets for hyper-focus.

For those with ADHD, understanding these strengths and embracing them can lead to a more fulfilling and positive life. Embracing their differences and working on areas that need improvement can lead to personal growth and better outcomes.