Why Are There So Many Successful People with ADHD? It is known that people with ADHD have specific strengths, as a result of their brain functioning difference. They are more spontaneous, creative, energetic, intuitive, imaginative, and inventive.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often viewed in a negative way as a list of troubling symptoms. However, there are quite a few highly successful people who actually attribute their achievements to their ADHD. Sometimes it's even described as a 'superpower'.
This is why people with ADHD can hyperfocus on creative things or other similar tasks, but may have trouble with completing tasks that are not interesting to them. This heightened focus can make leaders great at performing their work duties because they will be able to put more effort into the task at hand.
For instance, among the 18 studies under scrutiny that did not explicitly state an IQ cut-off point the mean range of IQ among individuals with ADHD reported in the studies is from 102 to 110. Given that lower IQ is associated with ADHD this suggests that individuals with ADHD may be inaccurately represented.
As many as 60% of individuals with ADHD symptoms in childhood continue to have difficulties in adult life. Adults with ADHD are more likely to be dismissed from employment and have often tried a number of jobs before being able to find one at which they can succeed.
These may include hyperfocus, resilience, creativity, conversational skills, spontaneity, and abundant energy. Many people view these benefits as “superpowers” because those with ADHD can hone them to their advantage. People with ADHD have a unique perspective that others may find interesting and valuable.
Children with exceptionally high IQ scores can also have ADHD. Both of my sons qualified for the Gifted/Talented program in school based on their high intelligence test scores. Both were also given the diagnosis of ADHD.
While many experts agree that these children do exist, there is currently no formal criteria to identify giftedness in children who are ADHD or to identify ADHD in children who are gifted.
Shankman: Simply put, ADHD is the brain's inability to produce as much dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline as “regular” people's brains produce. Because of that, our brains have become “faster.” When managed right, that becomes a superpower. Have you found that you tend to think faster than most people? Yes.
Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Records, is yet another uber-successful CEO with ADHD. In this article for Entrepreneur and this video, he shares how his ADHD and dyslexia impacted him.
ADHDers Are Often Ambitious
Dr. Russell Barkley speaks powerfully on ADHD and motivation by noting that most people with the condition are unable to attain their dreams because they struggle with sustaining action towards a future goal.
The highest rates emerged from Africa (8.5%) and South America (11.8%). Corroboration comes from a dimensional ADHD scale used in 21 countries. Japanese and Finnish children scored lowest, Jamaican and Thai children scored highest, and American children scored about average (7).
High IQ may “mask” the diagnosis of ADHD by compensating for deficits in executive functions in treatment-naïve adults with ADHD.
Look at this list of famous, successful people who were diagnosed with ADHD: Presidents John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson.
What Is ADHD Masking? ADHD masking, a term coined by Russell Barkley, is the process of behaving in certain ways to conceal the symptoms of ADHD. A person can actively and intentionally mask, or it can be a subconscious behavior.
Structure is beneficial for several reasons: Provides external control: The symptoms of ADHD lead to problems with self-control. As a result, children with ADHD need more external controls (i.e., structure) to help them manage symptoms.
If you hide your adult ADHD symptoms from other people, that's called masking. Basically, you're trying to seem more “normal” or “regular.” ADHD causes some people to act hyperactive or impulsive. It makes other folks have trouble paying attention. And still other adults have a combination of those symptoms.
A popular misconception is that all children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are naturally smarter and have a higher IQ than children without ADHD. However, there is no correlation between this condition and intelligence.
Intelligence and IQ Do Not Counteract ADHD
Despite their strengths and talents, high-IQ adults with ADHD demonstrate more cognitive difficulties, functional impairments, and comorbidities than do high-IQ adults without ADHD.
ADHD traits, such as novelty seeking, exploration, and vigilance, might have been an evolutionary benefit to our ancestors who had to move from place to place in search of new resources while being attentive to threats.
ADHD: a disabling condition
It is recognized as a disability under the 1992 Disability Discrimination Act.
Studying hospitality at a university can also be one of the best college majors for ADHD students. Classroom time is a part of school, but students get to quickly move on to real-world situations through internships and work-study programs.
People with ADHD can be effectively treated without drugs, improving brain dysregulation and help optimize brain function, leading to a reduction and/or resolution of symptoms and improved quality of life.