Michael Phelps is not alone. A surprising number of professional athletes have attention deficit disorder (ADHD). In fact, an estimated eight to ten percent of all pro athletes have the condition, as compared to four to five percent of the general population of adults.
“Common symptoms of ADHD may enhance athletic performance. Some athletes with ADHD naturally excel in baseball and basketball, which involve quick movements and reactive decision-making, due to these athletes' inherent impulsivity.
Research suggests, in fact, that ADHD may be more common in elite athletes than it is in the general population; up to 8% of athletes have the condition compared to 2% to 7% of the general population.
American football:
Former footballer Terry Bradshaw has ADHD. He was quoted as saying: “When you've got something to prove, there's nothing greater than a challenge.”
Bill Gates, born in 1955 is the founder of Microsoft, and has a net worth of $103.2 billion. He also chairs the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the world's largest private charitable foundation which has so far donated $35.8 billion to charity. Bill Gates, is known to have ADHD.
Many children with ADHD have other disorders as well as ADHD, such as behavior or conduct problems, learning disorders, anxiety and depression1,2. The combination of ADHD with other disorders often presents extra challenges for children, parents, educators, and healthcare providers.
His sense of hyperfocus allows him to give selective attention to the game he's playing in the moment. “With ADHD I'm completely immersed in a virtual world and able to stay focused in ways that aren't possible in the real world.
Not all sports are created equal. As a result of symptoms like difficulty following directions, kids with ADHD often excel at sports that offer one-on-one coach attention and clear rules.
It's much easier for children with ADHD to focus if there are fewer distractions and the coaching is directed specifically at them. If they are playing a sport where the coaching is directed more at the team as a whole, an athlete with ADHD may have a harder time paying attention,” Dr. Pollack said.
These may include hyperfocus, resilience, creativity, conversational skills, spontaneity, and abundant energy. Many people view these benefits as “superpowers” because those with ADHD can hone them to their advantage. People with ADHD have a unique perspective that others may find interesting and valuable.
ADHD students are often extremely creative, curious, passionate, and energetic—all attributes of successful entrepreneurs and inventors. Just take a look at the following list of famously successful adults who also had ADHD.
If you have ADHD, a workout does more than make you feel good. It can help control your symptoms, too. Even a single session of moving your body can make you more motivated for mental tasks, increase your brainpower, give you energy, and help you feel less confused.
A person with ADHD may have trouble remembering details, but they are able to move seamlessly from task to task without much thought. This makes them ideal candidates for CEOs because they can make fast decisions and react quickly when needed.
“Children with ADHD appear to benefit from shorter periods of screen-based activities more frequently,” says Pavkovic. For example, 40 minutes per day, 5 days a week, instead of 2 hours per day, twice a week.
The exposure to stressful life events, and—more specifically—Childhood Trauma, has been shown to predict ADHD onset as well as persistence of the disorder into adulthood (Biederman et al. 1995; Friedrichs et al.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), one of the most prevalent childhood disorders today, is generally more likely to be diagnosed and treated in boys than in girls.
Does ADHD affect IQ? A popular misconception is that all children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are naturally smarter and have a higher IQ than children without ADHD. However, there is no correlation between this condition and intelligence.
“The ADHD brain is a superpower brain,” says Yamalis Diaz, PhD, psychologist at NYU Langone Health. “There are some very real strengths to the ADHD brain.” Yes, there are challenges, but finding ways to cope with your weaknesses and maximize your strengths can make all the difference in thriving with ADHD.
Barkley, PhD. “Children diagnosed with ADHD are not likely to grow out of it. And while some children may recover fully from their disorder by age 21 or 27, the full disorder or at least significant symptoms and impairment persist in 50-86 percent of cases diagnosed in childhood.
Being creative and inventive.
Living with ADHD may give the person a different perspective on life and encourage them to approach tasks and situations with a thoughtful eye. As a result, some with ADHD may be inventive thinkers. Other words to describe them may be original, artistic, and creative.
ADHD: a disabling condition
It is recognized as a disability under the 1992 Disability Discrimination Act.