ADHD & Hyper Focus Part II

ADHD & Hyper-Focus

This commentary examines the nature of and evidence for a frequently cited benefit of ADHD, especially in adults – that being “hyper-focusing (HF).” Despite its widespread belief, this relationship has not been explored much in the scientific literature, with less than 8 studies being identified. The results are conflicting, depending on whether the study used people who just had high symptoms of ADHD, and not the disorder, compared to studies of clinically diagnosed individuals who had the full disorder (symptoms and impairments). In general, there does seem to be a significant relationship between ADHD and HF when ADHD is measured as rated symptoms. But in clinically diagnosed people the results are conflicting, with one study finding the relationship and another not. And while HF is often presented as a benefit or gift of ADHD, there are suggestions in some studies that it also has a more negative side, being related to risk for internet addiction and certain types of offending behavior. So, the claim that ADHD is definitely linked to hyper-focusing and that it is a positive trait is not definitively established at this time. More research is clearly needed but such claims of HF as being widespread among those with ADHD, and entirely a benefit, cannot be taken on face value as an established fact. I explore this issue in three videos.

In Part II, I focus on the few research studies on HF and their conflicting findings on the relationship of ADHD to HF, and summarize the findings. In Part III, I present some final thoughts on the matter..

Research review on hyperfocusing by Ashinoff et al. (2019). Psychological Research:

Hyperfocusing and ADHD in college students. Grotewiel et al. (2022). Current Psychology.

Hyperfocusing in adult ADHD. Hupfeld et al. (2018). ADHD (journal)

Hyperfocusing as a dimension of adult ADHD. Ozel-Kizil et al. (2016). Research in Developmental Disabilitites.

Testing the relation between ADHD and hyperfocus experiences. Groen et al. (2020). Research in Developmental Disabilities:

Hyperfocus and internet addiction. Ishii et al. (2023). Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Hyperfocus and offending behavior: a systematic review. Worthington & Wheeler (2023). The Journal of Forensic Practice.

[madgepickles]

As much as I love my hyperfocus moments, I would much rather be consistently motivated and able to adequately perform tasks that I need to do that I'm not interested in, rather than these random bouts of intense focus on something I am impulsively interested in for 14 hours straight during a work day when I have other responsibilities to perform

[HappyMooshie]

During “hyperfocus” I tend to ignore hunger, thirst, bathroom, sleep… normal basic human needs. My boyfriend will snap me out of it and then I’ll realize I’m famished and super dehydrated. I’ve had so many interests, hobbies and obsessions. They can last hours to months until I get sick of it. I noticed there’s long term hyperfocus and short term as well. I love that people can share their experiences on here. I hope this will help with research so we can better understand 🤗

[TheTeaThyme]

Is there any research on ADHD and having intense hobbies that last for days/weeks/months and suddenly disappear? I don't think in my this would be classified as hyperfocus because from what I understand that is a shorter period of time. But I've always had this aspect of my personality since childhood and have been curious about it.

[AnnaReed]

I find hyperfocus to be a double-edged sword. It feels great to be so intensely focused on something, and I do find that it can help me out in a work setting (my work involves a lot of problem solving and creativity), but by the time I come out of it I find myself completely drained. Like I'm a Sim with all of my needs bars in the red - hungry, tired, isolated, needing to pee, etc. Plus I can get irritable when interrupted. And obviously not being able to control the onset of hyperfocus isn't great. So basically it's a double-edged sword that I can use to land a perfect killing blow, but I can't fully control the target, I get cut up and bruised in the process, and I risk nicking someone I didn't want to hurt.

[madgepickles]

It makes sense to me that those with more severe ADHD symptoms are more likely to experience Internet addiction as it is often very dopaminergic. I think it's fascinating that those with more severe symptoms are also more likely to experience hyperfocus. I can see how that might make sense in that it's a regulation issue, so giving in to the hyperfocus produces a steady stream of dopamine where forcing yourself to stop feels really really bad.

[steveheidenreich]

Yes there's a huge focus on this and "superpowers" and the like for ADHD. I think there is a connection but I think it's potentially mediated by, yes the addictive nature of ADHD, and/or the frequent ASD comorbidity.

College students with ADHD are likely to be overrepresented by the increasingly recognized "AuDHD" folks who have become the face of ADHD, at least for a lot of these internet gurus. High IQ, often very successful, well-spoken, and I wonder if the upsides they see to ADHD are actually just mediated by the ASD traits. Hyperfocus on an Excel spreadsheet or a niche academic subject probably isn't what your average person with ADHD is actually doing, but it absolutely sounds like something many with ASD would do.

[supermumkids]

Here in the UK, we have a pilot scheme running in London borough police station custody suites, where new offenders are given an adhd assessment, due to known statistics, that those already serving custodial sentences are either diagnosed/undiagnosed, but showing traits of adhd, and probability that offenders act on impulsivity, and are unmedicated.

[Brad-cbdt]

So, it seems pretty clear to say that hyper focusing or hyper fixation on the wrong things is detrimental to one’s well being, BUT I haven’t heard many (or any) people mention that it can be detrimental when focusing on the right things. I’m a software developer, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been stuck on a problem for a long time where, if I simply was to walk away and come back to it, I would be able to see I was looking in the wrong place. ADHD is about attention regulation. Tunnel vision on a singular task isn’t necessarily a good thing, even if it’s on something that’s *considered* to be “productive”. What’s “productive” is not not something that can thoroughly be nailed down in the heat of the moment. Productivity is not measured in effort, sustained or otherwise, it’s measure in in the rate of speed you close in a on a goal. But no one truly know how far the goal post is until they get there. Productivity can only truly be measure after the fact.

Disclaimer: this is an armchair comment. I’m not an expert.

[testingacocunt]

Thank you so much for making this channel. I was upset about your retirement, wondering whom I could look up next. I am a nerd and I am finding these videos on current research very helpful

[priyabriggs]

There appears to be a current trend of parents self-diagnosing ADHD and ASD. Parents who don’t have ADHD are being advised they must have the condition especially by professionals. I find this highly problematic particularly when large groups of neurodiverse people argue that hyper-focussing is exclusive to them and certainly not a trait shared by NT people. They are claiming that it’s their super power. The studies you’ve highlighted here certainly puts that claim to rest. I understand that ADHD runs in families and it’s important to assess the parents but without any evidence, it’s problematic to assume just because a child has ADHD, both parents have it too.

[DaxPegels]

I never liked my hyperfocus moments. Because it usually is when I have to do something for the household, or work or whatever. I forget to eat, drink and sometimes go to the bathroom. So when I pop out of it I have to do all three all at once. And sometimes it happens and then in the end I don't even feel productive afterwards.

[welcomeization]

A good analysis - we must always be sceptical of pop ''science'' claims that are often more ideological than objective.

[piotrgraniszewski]

I shall stop using the term "hyperfocus" from now on. Thank you for bringing this issue to my attention. This term is contagious.

[wwff]

Great honest scientific approach. Tks a lot.

[hanskraut]

"Have you trained people by the media to selfreport" Yes exactly brilliant here the reasons:
1) People are punished for sayng they have something when people who dont want to pay for it see them say smth true and reward gaslighted stuff that benefits them. Selfish people often amplify signals or mights that benefit them, it is also when they are opportunistic becuase they themselfes have a toght time, its really very simple from basic rules. Hear X does X benefit me if the people around me believe it? If yes = aplify/more positive towards it/look for evidence FOR it. If no = do the opposite be more critical and obviously if one is biased they always find what they will look for add to it the dunning kruger effect and the eccochamber effect, and the human instinct (even in chimpansees) to form gangs/groups to say it more mildly to get advantages/protect there selfinteresst since life is not good vs bad its shades of complex grays all the way down to nucleus of athoms or the complex "machinery" who had millions of years at least of exponential dubbling and expanding of ways to develop even faster.
2) Yes people are trained to hate medications and love "natural things" its like republicans attack anythign that even remotely goes in 1 direction so if you dont knwo every detail u will just adjust and take it in self defense. The left and middle as well i guess. Its a generall thing that is hard to spot.
3) If you tie the arm of somone behind the back or block some mental abilitys they will get more creative no matter if its a advantague or not becuase [creativitiy = intelligence that is more rare/more novel] and [intelligence = being able to do something that people want ususally survival, reproduction, making money, feeling good, avoiding harm, avoiding pain/despair etc. If you can do it with LESS effort or problems or at all when others struggle you are more "intelligent depending on the sliding scale/%] those two defintions are made up here not copyed like most things and they should apply to everything where as most defintions given do not cover everything and are often just a "describe as many things i can think of the trait and then list a common attribute" or "give examples 'its like when you do this hard things and u get the girl to like u that is outside ur class' 'when u do what others could not and make millions' ' when u solve the psychological disorder that others could not or did it better or faster' 'when u solved or majorly contributed or enabled someone to contribute significantly with less effort/negatives than most/all other people'

[HyperFocusMarshmallow]

In cases of a combination of ADHD + hyper focus + internet addiction, would that suggest any particular strategies for treatment or support for dealing with that.
If the science on the connection itself is inconclusive at the moment, I would expect the science on treatment of that specific scenario to be less mature.
Sounds like there is potential for more useful research here.

[Ibis-of-Equilon]

Unrelated:

Wpukd you redomend peer support either 1-1 or groups for recently diagnosed people to meet up with more seasoned adhders? And ongoing ? .. so start new and end up being a peer support for a new person in the future ? And so on and so forth ?

[BrothireStrangLuve]

I've been destroyed by at least one so called hyper-focus of mine.

[AmyPettman]

Dear Dr Barkley, thanks so much for this comprehensive literature review. It seems perhaps that the ability for those with ADHD to persist at enjoyable tasks for a long time because of the positive feedback, may be difficult to differentiate from hyperfocus as a separate phenomenon. Do you think that this may be where the confusion lies and how great a distinction do you think there is between these two things? Thank you :)

[FarmerGwyn]

Interesting, this confirms my thoughts, I'll try and explain my lived experience, when I'm interested and able to keep on task, I don't see myself as hyperfocusing, but by what metrics? Well... if hyperfocusing is defined as being able to focus better and see things more clearly when you're doing that task, then I definitely can't hyperfocus, when I'm on task I'm still drifting away, I don't understand anything any better or quicker, it's just the same except that, I'm more able to keep on task and return to it.