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ADHD

The Upside of ADHD: Psychologists Explain the “Superpowers” of the ADHD Brain

Lauren Smith, MAKaren Hovav, MD, FAAP
Written by Lauren Smith, MA | Reviewed by Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP
Updated on April 4, 2025
Featuring Yamalis Diaz, PhD, Alok Patel, MD, Jennifer L. Hartstein, PsyDReviewed by Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP | April 4, 2025

Although ADHD includes the word “disorder” in its title, this condition ultimately means your brain works a bit differently than that of people without ADHD — and it doesn’t have to be a “bad thing.”

ADHD, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is commonly described as a brain disorder that causes inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. (Learn more symptoms of ADHD in adults here.) While this description is technically accurate, it doesn’t capture the strengths that often come hand in hand with the “ADHD brain.”

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Lauren Smith, MA
Written by:
Lauren Smith, MA
Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.
Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.

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