ADHD and Intelligence: Busting the Myth That You Can’t Be Smart and Have ADHD

Rethinking the Link Between ADHD and Intelligence

A common and harmful misconception is that you can't have ADHD if you're intelligent or professionally successful. This is complete BS. In this blog post, I'll break down that myth to show you that high IQ and success absolutely do NOT preclude you from having ADHD.

Myth: You Can’t Have ADHD If You’re Smart or Successful

ADHD and intelligence are not mutually exclusive. ADHD exists across all intellectual levels, including among those with high IQs. In fact, many people with ADHD achieve incredible things in academia, business, and creative fields which they often attribute to their unique cognitive strengths.

However a paradox exists: The same person who can solve complex problems, think innovatively, or master highly specialized skills may still struggle with “simple” tasks like responding to emails, remembering deadlines, or keeping track of their keys. This contradiction can be frustrating and confusing, leading many high-performing ADHDers to believe that if they just “tried harder,” they could overcome their challenges.

But this a false assumption. The issue isn’t effort, it’s alignment. ADHD brains thrive when tasks engage their interests, strengths, and intrinsic motivators. Instead of just trying harder, we need to try differently —by structuring environments and systems that work with their brain.

While high-IQ individuals with ADHD may show fewer executive function deficits than those with average IQ, they still experience significant challenges compared to neurotypical adults (Millioni et al., 2017). Intelligence doesn’t cancel out ADHD—it just changes how it presents.

So Why Does This Myth Persist?

1. Adaptability and Resilience

Many successful ADHDers develop creative, strategic ways to cope with their symptoms. These compensatory strategies can mask ADHD-related difficulties, allowing individuals to "fly under the radar"—especially in childhood.

2. Trait Overlap

ADHD, high IQ, and creativity often share characteristics like high energy, curiosity, nonconformity, impatience, and a low tolerance for boredom. These overlaps can fool both clinicians and clients.

3. Out-of-the-Box Thinking

ADHDers frequently excel at divergent thinking—nonlinear, spontaneous, and imaginative problem-solving that's highly valued in fields like entrepreneurship, design, and the arts. This skill can lead to their success and, combined with inaccurate perceptions of ADHD, can mislead both individuals and ADHDers themselves into thinking they couldn't possibly have ADHD.

4. Hyperfocus on Interests

When deeply engaged in a subject or task, individuals with ADHD may show extraordinary concentration and output. This can appear as “superhuman” productivity, but often occurs only in specific contexts or under specific conditions.

5. Diverse Presentation

ADHD manifests differently from person to person. High intelligence may mask or compensate for symptoms, making them less visible to others, or even to the individual themselves.

Final Thoughts: Smart Doesn’t Mean Symptom-Free

Having a high IQ doesn’t make ADHD disappear. But it can change how it looks and how it’s perceived. The key is shifting from outdated assumptions to a nuanced, neurodiversity-informed understanding of what ADHD really looks like.

You’re not too smart to struggle. You’re not too successful to seek support. And you’re definitely not alone.