ADHD in Children
Visual Abstract
High intelligence and the risk of ADHD and other psychopathology
Nanda Rommelse , Kevin Antshel , Stijn Smeets , Corina Greven , Lianne Hoogeveen , Stephen V Faraone , Catharina A Hartman
Summarized by:
April 23, 2023
study source
Br J Psychiatry
Dec 2017
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What they studied
Researchers wanted to analyze the link between IQ and ADHD in a large population study.
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What they found
Researchers found that children with more difficulties paying attention at school were likelier to have lower IQ scores. Teachers often felt children with ADHD were not living up to their potential, regardless of IQ.
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What this means
This study shows that attention difficulties tend to correlate with IQ scores. However, ADHD can affect children at all levels of intellectual capability.
High intelligence and the risk of ADHD and other psychopathology
Objectives
The relationship between ADHD and intelligence can be complicated. ADHD is often associated with difficulties in school, while intelligence is associated with academic excellence.
This study wanted to analyze the link between ADHD and intelligence. Do intelligent children get ADHD, and if so, what effect does ADHD have on them and their academic performance?
Study Quote
High intelligence may be associated with positive (adaptive, desired) outcomes, but may also come with disadvantages.
Aims: To contribute empirically to the debate concerning whether a trade-off in IQ scores exists in relation to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorde...
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Methods
This study was one of the first population studies on ADHD and intelligence. It collected data from parents and teachers of over 2000 children with ADHD. This allows researchers to better understand how ADHD affects children at home and school and how these effects change based on intelligence.
Study Quote
Curves of the relation between IQ score and ADHD problems were fitted to questionnaire data (parent, teacher, self-report} in a population-based study of 2221 children and adolescents aged 10-12 years. Externalising and internalising problems were included for comparison purposes.
Results
ADHD is typically split into hyperactive and attention deficit symptoms. According to parents, ADHD symptoms of all types are correlated with intelligence,
Parents of high-IQ children perceived less severe ADHD symptoms in their children than parents of low-IQ children. But, importantly, high-IQ children still had above-average ADHD symptoms.
Parents saw less severe ADHD symptoms in higher IQ children
The data from teachers showed a slightly different picture. Teachers were far more likely to perceive severe ADHD symptoms in students with low IQ. While ADHD hyperactivity symptoms were also linked with IQ, this relationship was more subtle.
This suggests that, for one reason or another, children with high IQs can behave better in class despite their ADHD.
Teacher's ratings of attention depended highly on a student's IQ
Teachers felt that children at all levels of intellectual capability with ADHD were performing below their capacity. They felt that children with ADHD, whether they had a high or low IQ, were not meeting their full potential.
Teachers were less likely to feel that high ADHD students were performing below their own capacity, but many still felt that they did.
Study Quote
Higher IQ score was most strongly related to fewer attention problems, with more rater discrepancy in the high v. average IQ range. Attention problems - but only minimally hyperactivity/impulsivity problems - predicted functional impairment at school, also in the higher IQ range.
Conclusions
Based on the study results, researchers concluded that ADHD affects children of high and low intellectual capacity. Even children with very high IQs can still underperform in school.
Study Quote
Attention problems in highly intelligent children are exceptional and affect school performance; they are therefore a reason for clinical concern.