Here, There, and Everywhere

Time management and organization skills from an ADD expert.

by Dr. Stephanie Sarkis

ADHD and High IQ: Still Impaired

High IQ does not reduce ADHD difficulties.

Published on December 16, 2011 by Stephanie Sarkis, Ph.D. in Here, There, and Everywhere

One myth of ADHD is that "smart" people don't get ADHD. Or if someone was "smart enough", they would be able to compensate for their ADHD. A study has found that having a high IQ is no match for the impairment that goes along with ADHD.

People with ADHD have executive dysfunction in the frontal lobe of the brain. Executive functions are similar to the tasks of an executive at a company. The executive functions of the brain include tasks like:

Organizing information
Working memory tasks
TIme management
Regulation of emotions
Planning
Forethought
Learning from consequences

So can someone with a high IQ get around this executive function impairment? One study says no.

See All Stories In

The Curse of Being Gifted?

Find a Therapist

Search for a mental health professional near you.

Find Local:

A study by Antshel et al. (2010) compared the EFs of high-IQ adults with and without ADHD. Study subjects were given a battery of EF assessments. Adults with ADHD scored less well on seven EF assessments compaired to adults with ADHD. Therefore, ADHD impacts functioning, regardless of IQ.

This study shows that the impairment from ADHD is debilitating, regardless of IQ. So people with high IQs who are told they don't really have ADHD because they are smart, or that they should be able to compensate if they have a high IQ - this study shows otherwise.

www.stephaniesarkis.com