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High Functioning ADHD: Definition, Symptoms, & Treatments

Published: June 9, 2022 Updated: November 24, 2022
Published: 06/09/2022 Updated: 11/24/2022
Headshot of Erica Laub, LGSW
Written by:

Erica Laub

MS, LICSW
Headshot of Dr. Kristen Fuller, MD
Reviewed by:

Kristen Fuller

MD
  • What Is High Functioning ADHD?Definition
  • High Functioning ADHD SymptomsSymptoms
  • Treatment & Support for High Functioning ADHDTreatment & Support
  • Final ThoughtsConclusion
  • Additional ResourcesResources
  • High Functioning ADHD InfographicsInfographics
Headshot of Erica Laub, LGSW
Written by:

Erica Laub

MS, LICSW
Headshot of Dr. Kristen Fuller, MD
Reviewed by:

Kristen Fuller

MD

High-functioning ADHD may apply to children or adults with more mild symptoms of ADHD. Typically, this allows them to function a little better than those with more debilitating symptoms. However, individuals with high-functioning ADHD still meet full criteria for ADHD and can experience a fluctuating range of symptoms.

Evidence has shown that online therapy can be effective in the treatment of ADHD symptoms. BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed, experienced therapist to help you manage your ADHD symptoms and reduce any negative impact on your life and relationships. Online therapy with BetterHelp starts at $60 per week. Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you.

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What Is High Functioning ADHD?

ADHD is a neurological disorder marked by hyperactivity, inattention, or a combination of the two. “High-functioning” ADHD isn’t an official specifier in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM-V), but the term has been more recently adopted by clinicians and mainstream culture to refer to people who may have found certain “work-arounds.”1,2

High-functioning ADHD is clinical ADHD, but someone with it may have found ways to compensate for deficits with other strengths.1,3 For example, they may feel like they can’t read a book for fun, but they can complete a work project. It may be exhausting and take a while, but they find a way to do it, whereas someone with more debilitating ADHD may get fired because they can’t.

Both kids and adults with ADHD can exhibit high-functioning ADHD. Impairment in functioning exists along a spectrum based on unique brain chemistry and environmental factors. Embracing neurodivergence validates the atypical neurological processing of the ADHD brain without using limiting terms like “abnormal” or “different.”

High Functioning ADHD Symptoms

ADHD isn’t a “black and white” diagnosis with extremely strict symptom criteria. It’s even possible to have at least a few symptoms but not receive a formal diagnosis. Anyone with high functioning ADHD can experience good days and more difficult ones, but symptoms may show up as frequent stress, difficulty multitasking, and frequent mood swings.

For adults with symptoms of ADHD, their experiences could have been overlooked in childhood; this is especially relevant to girls and women with ADHD who report more inattentive or internalized symptoms.3

High functioning ADHD symptoms include:

  • Difficulty multitasking
  • Getting stressed out easily
  • Frequent mood swings
  • Time blindness or poor time management
  • Racing thoughts or jumping from idea to idea
  • Being overly “chatty” in conversations or unintentionally interrupting others
  • Sensitivity to rejection
  • Drifting or daydreaming
  • Chronic procrastination and putting things off to the last minute
  • Intense excitement
  • Feeling fidgety and can’t sit still
  • Difficulty reading for an extended amount of time or even just a page
  • Low self-esteem and frequent frustration with self

Get Help 

Talkiatry – Offers psychiatric appointments with real doctors within a week. They’re in-network with every major insurer and offer medication management. Take a free assessment and meet your new psychiatrist.  Free Assessment


Inflow App – Inflow is the #1 science-based app to help you manage your ADHD. Their support system helps you understand your neurodiverse brain, and build lifelong skills. Free Trial


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Treatment & Support for High Functioning ADHD

Recommendations for adult ADHD treatment typically include a combination of psychotherapy and medication interventions. Note that there are many clinical biases in treating this disorder. For example, practitioners may falsely assume that an adult with a graduate degree or PhD who asks for an evaluation couldn’t possibly have ADHD because they belong to a high-stakes, high-performing profession.4

Medication

Medication, including stimulants or non-stimulants and antidepressants, can help lower the severity of symptoms or “take the edge off.” They’re designed to allow individuals to perform better at work by increasing attention and impulsive control and lowering hyperactivity.

It is important to discuss your personal symptoms and circumstances with your doctor. Based on your specific needs, certain medications may be more or less effective for your desired outcome or change in behavior.

Therapy

There are many types of therapy that may be utilized to treat high-functioning ADHD. Typically, CBT for ADHD is a first line of treatment as it allows clients to explore their thought patterns and identify areas that need confrontation in order to change their behavior. Although ADHD is a neurological condition, it is possible for individuals to develop tools to learn new, better habits.

Other therapies, like acceptance and commitment (ACT), aim to increase flexible thinking and decrease distress.5 Mindfulness can feel like a trigger word for those with ADHD. They may view it as “hokey,” invalidating, or impossible. Working with a therapist to redefine mindfulness can lead to feeling more present without self-judgment.

To find a neurodiversity affirming therapist, check an online therapist directory for experienced clinicians who specialize in treating ADHD. A good clinician will work with you to determine your unique needs and design a behavior plan that potentially includes lifestyle changes and identifies more sources of support.

Final Thoughts

Remember, ADHD isn’t an intellectual impairment, but it does affect executive functioning and processing. High functioning ADHD symptoms can be hard to deal with as well, but there are ways to get help. Even for those who feel like things are just a “little bit off,” a proper diagnosis can provide validation and explanation.

Additional Resources

Education is just the first step on our path to improved mental health and emotional wellness. To help our readers take the next step in their journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy may be compensated for marketing by the companies mentioned below.

ADHD Management Tools

Inflow App Inflow is the #1 science-based app to help you manage your ADHD. Their support system helps you understand your neurodiverse brain, and build lifelong skills. Free Trial

Virtual Psychiatry

Talkiatry Get help from a real doctor that takes your insurance. Talkiatry offers medication management and online visits with top-rated psychiatrists. Take the online assessment and have your first appointment within a week. Free Assessment

Online Therapy 

BetterHelp Get support and guidance from a licensed therapist. BetterHelp has over 20,000 therapists who provide convenient and affordable online therapy.  Complete a brief questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you. Get Started

Free ADHD Newsletter

A free newsletter from Choosing Therapy for those impacted by ADHD. Get helpful tips and the latest information. Sign Up

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You can search for therapists by specialty, experience, insurance, or price, and location. Find a therapist today

Choosing Therapy partners with leading mental health companies and is compensated for marketing by BetterHelp, Inflow, and Talkiatry.

For Further Reading

  • Best ADHD Podcasts
  • Best ADHD YouTube Channels
  • Best ADHD Books
  • Chadd.org
  • ADDitude

High Functioning ADHD Infographics

What is High Functioning ADHD High Functioning ADHD Symptoms Treatment and Support for High Functioning ADHD

5 sources

Choosing Therapy strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.

  • Lesch, K. P. (2018). ‘Shine bright like a diamond!’: is research on high‐functioning ADHD at last entering the mainstream?. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 59(3), 191-192. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12887

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

  • Wilens, T. E., Biederman, J., Faraone, S. V., Martelon, M., Westerberg, D., & Spencer, T. J. (2009). Presenting ADHD symptoms, subtypes, and comorbid disorders in clinically referred adults with ADHD. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 70(11), 1557–1562. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.08m04785pur

  • Sedgwick, J. A., Merwood, A., & Asherson, P. (2019). The positive aspects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a qualitative investigation of successful adults with ADHD. ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders, 11(3), 241-253. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-018-0277-6

  • Fullen, T., Galab, N., Abbott, K. A., & Adamou, M. (2020). Acceptance and commitment therapy for adults with ADHD during COVID-19: an open trial. Open Journal of Psychiatry, 10(04), 205. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojpsych.2020.104017

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Headshot of Erica Laub, LGSW
Written by:

Erica Laub

MS, LICSW
Headshot of Dr. Kristen Fuller, MD
Reviewed by:

Kristen Fuller

MD
  • What Is High Functioning ADHD?Definition
  • High Functioning ADHD SymptomsSymptoms
  • Treatment & Support for High Functioning ADHDTreatment & Support
  • Final ThoughtsConclusion
  • Additional ResourcesResources
  • High Functioning ADHD InfographicsInfographics
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