Do people with ADHD have high IQs?
Why are people with ADHD a gifted group?
You’ll find out after reading this article!
The content of the article mainly focuses on the following topics:
01 Why does ADHD give people the impression of “high IQ”?
02 The IQ level of juvenile ADHD?
03 IQ level of adult ADHD?
01 Why does ADHD give people the impression of “high IQ”?
Re “Do People with ADHD have high IQs? This question has long been a hot and controversial topic in the field of ADHD.
First of all, as to the reason why ADHD patients have a high IQ, I think an Internet user explained it very well.
“The reason why we have this illusion that people with ADHD have higher IQs is because of the ‘survivor bias’.”
Because of the general lack of awareness of ADHD in most people around the world, plus, the average, not so good ADHD people are mostly off the Internet.
And most of the ADHD groups who appear online are more prominent and have characteristics.
Don’t you believe me?
If you don’t believe me, check out the online study “What is it like to be highly intelligent with ADHD?” On the topic of “Income levels of ADHD”, you will find that their income levels are beyond your imagination.
So, we selectively ignore the majority of the ADHD population whose IQ is average and who don’t do well, while we magnify the minority of the “good” ADHD population.
02 Adolescent A.D.H.D. levels
Secondly, let’s talk about “intelligence quotient”. What is the real situation of IQ of ADHD group?
Let’s take a look at the studies on the ADHD IQ of minors and adults respectively.
Let’s first look at the differences between the IQ of children with ADHD aged 6 to 18 and the IQ of the general population.
Through data collection, I saw a netizen’s project research: “Using the international general Wechsler intelligence to determine the IQ of ADHD groups aged 6 to 18” the conclusion is:
The average IQ level of children with ADHD is lower than that of ordinary children.
Some relevant hospitals have also released similar conclusions: the total IQ and IQ factor index of ADHD children are lower than that of normal children [1]
(Note :ADHD, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. WISC-IV, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 4th edition)
So, how does the IQ of adults with ADHD compare to that of the general population?
03 Adult ADHD IQ level?
The answer, as you can probably guess, is that adults with ADHD have a lower “intelligence level” than the normal population, just like children with ADHD.
A 2006 study found that adults with ADHD had lower overall IQ scores on intelligence tests than those without ADHD.
However, the difference was too small to be clinically significant.
This suggests that only a subset of adults with ADHD (e.g., those with comorbidities) may have lower IQs relative to non-ADHD adults [2] .
(Mean (M) and standard deviation (SD) of adult ADHD IQ and general population IQ)
So that’s all about the IQ comparison between ADHD and the general population, so do you want to know, what are the cognitive differences between high IQ adults with ADHD and average IQ adults with ADHD?
In 2017, there was a study that showed:
Average IQ ADHD patients have significant impairments in attention and working memory;
In terms of working memory, emotional control and behavior management, high IQ ADHD patients were less impaired;
IQ may be a protective factor for cognitive function, especially working memory, in ADHD patients [3] .
From this study, it can be seen that the main difference between high-IQ adults with ADHD and average-IQ adults with ADHD is the cognitive component of working memory.
So would you like to learn more about the differences in working memory between high-IQ adults with ADHD and average-IQ adults with ADHD?
There have been studies in this area. Adults with ADHD generally have impairments in working memory, but those with high IQ ADHD have less impairments in working memory than those with average IQ ADHD.
High IQ may have a compensatory or protective effect on the working memory ability of ADHD patients [4].
(Differences in working memory between average IQ adult ADHD and high IQ Adult ADHD)
Seeing this, I am very heartbroken, verbal working memory, spatial working memory severely impaired I left sad tears, although I have not been tested IQ, but according to this conclusion can be inferred that my IQ is in the low or medium level.
With so many examples of ADHD IQ related studies, the general conclusion is as follows:
1. The average IQ score of ADHD group (children, adolescents, adults) is lower than that of the general group, but the difference is not significant.
2. IQ may be a protective factor for the cognitive function of ADHD patients, especially the working memory ability. Working memory is generally impaired in ADHD and ADHD adults with general IQ, but adhd with general IQ is more severely impaired.
References:
[1] YU Zhenzhu, Zhang Shanhong, Zhong Yunyu, Yang Binrang, ZHONG Yuanxin, WANG Yufeng. Intelligence characteristics of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [J]. Chinese Journal of Mental Health,2019,33(06):416-419.
[2] Pan Meirong, Huang Fang, Zhao Mengjie, Wang Yanfei, Qian Qiujin, Wang Yufeng. Analysis of clinical and cognitive function characteristics of high IQ adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [J]. Chinese Journal of Psychiatry,2017,50(06):425-431.
[3] Zhao Xixi, Sun Li, Wang Encong, Wu Zhanliang, Cao Qing-jiu, Wang Yufeng. Working memory in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with high IQ [J]. Chin J Mental Health,2014,28(06):417-422. (in Chinese)
[4] Bridgett D J , Walker M E . Intellectual functioning in adults with ADHD: A meta-analytic examination of full scale IQ differences between adults with and without ADHD.[J]. Psychological Assessment, 2006, 18 (1) : 1-14.