Is ADHD a Superpower? It depends…

Oct 28

Written By Dave

There is a frequent, friendly argument in the ADHD world about whether ADHD is or is not a superpower. I’ve come down to the following answer:

The more privileged a person is, the more likely they are to claim ADHD is a superpower.

Privilege comes with wealth, social status, or access to resources—the higher their privilege, the more likely they are to claim ADHD as a superpower, because they are free to tap into their hyperfocus and be distracted from pressing responsibilities that most people face, such as bills, family, and work.

Conversely, those with less privilege are less likely to view ADHD in this way, as they may face more significant barriers in managing their symptoms due to limited support or accommodations.

Is ADHD a superpower?

What do you think? Here’s some music to listen to while you consider my theory. Kudos to Paris Hilton for capturing ADHD in this catchy song. Hilton also bravely appeared in the documentary about ADHD called The Disruptors. I interviewed the film’s executive producer, Nancy Armstrong, about it here.

One last thing…

You have superpowers, we all do. In my presentation about ADHD, The Root Down, I share specific strategies to determine and apply your superpowers regardless of your neurotype.