Some people with ADHD might have higher IQs. But assuming that there is a correlation may be harmful, because it can keep your child from getting the help they may need.

Many people have a hard time understanding why children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may excel in certain tasks while facing major challenges in others. For example, a parent might notice that their child is great at math but can’t remember to brush their teeth in the morning.

In other cases, parents or teachers might assume that a child with ADHD is less intelligent if their ADHD symptoms affect their school performance.

However, intelligence and ADHD are not always linked. Assuming this is the case may hinder your child from getting the support they need.

There’s a common misconception that a person with ADHD automatically has a lower IQ. Other people may believe that ADHD is always associated with a higher IQ. But neither of these assumptions is true.

Depending on the severity of symptoms, ADHD can negatively impact a person’s ability to function at school and work. Even though ADHD itself may not directly cause lower IQ scores, difficulties with learning at school may lead to lower IQ scores in some people with ADHD.

In addition, some people with ADHD may be able to focus their attention on something they enjoy doing, while tasks that don’t feel fun or interesting are hard to focus on. Thus, if school-related tasks are not enjoyable, this can reflect in academic performance.

A 2020 study found that children with higher IQs and ADHD performed similarly to children of average IQs without ADHD on cognitive tasks. This can result in a masking effect, potentially making obtaining a diagnosis more difficult.

A 2019 study in gifted ADHD children found that, compared to their non-gifted peers with ADHD:

  • inattentive symptoms were less severe
  • hyperactive/impulsive symptoms presented differently

This may leave the impression that children with higher IQs cannot have ADHD or are not impacted by its effects, which is untrue.

Left untreated, ADHD can have lasting negative consequences.

A 2020 study found that individuals with untreated ADHD were more likely to have a history of depression. They also found that these individuals exhibited inattentive ADHD symptoms, which may be the case for gifted children with ADHD.

A 2022 study found that the rate of obesity was significantly higher in individuals with untreated ADHD compared to individuals who had treatment.

Diagnosis and treatment

If you suspect that you or your child may have ADHD, talk with your doctor. They can refer you to a mental health specialist who can help make a diagnosis and determine the next steps.

Depending on your child’s age, treatment for ADHD can involve medication and behavioral therapy. Parents and schools can also be a part of behavioral therapy.

ADHD cannot directly predict IQ. The correlations between ADHD and IQ are often based on stereotypes and misconceptions, which can be incredibly harmful for your child.

One who assumes that someone with ADHD has a higher IQ might not seek proper treatment. On the other hand, one who assumes that someone with ADHD is not “smart” may overlook that individual’s potential.

It is important to treat ADHD and intelligence as separate entities. While one can affect the other, they are certainly not one and the same.