Stupid is a word that we unfortunately hear and use way too often. Every time we say something that we didnât think through, do something impulsively or write something that is wrong because of a lack of knowledge, we âare stupidâ. At least thatâs what others or even ourselves would say. And if you make quite a lot of impulsive mistakes or donât learn enough for your tests it seems to be justified that you are stupid. Every bad grade, every wrong answer and every imprudent action manifests this even more. Meaning that especially with ADHD you get called/call yourself stupid a lot.
But are you really stupid? Stupid literally means âhaving or showing a great lack of intelligence or common senseâ. Intelligence means âthe ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skillsâ. Common sense is âgood sense and sound judgment in practical mattersâ. If you didnât study for a test and get a bad great, it shows that you didnât acquired the knowledge that was needed to get a good grade. Or you just failed a test because of the inability to concentrate on the tasks and therefore you just overlooked important aspects or made careless mistakes. What it doesnât show is your ABILITY to acquire and apply knowledge. If youâre executive dysfunction made studying, concentrating, etc. impossible it has nothing to do with stupidity.
No one would call someone who is long-sighted stupid because he was not able to read the questions on his/her assignment and therefore getting everything wrong. Nobody would call someone with a broken hand stupid because he couldnât write an answer to a difficult question.
ADHD is literally a disorder that affects your executive functions. Activation, Focus, Effort, Emotion, Memory and Action are impaired. What is not impaired is your ability to âacquire and apply knowledge and skillsâ. But youâre executive functions just donât work as they are supposed to. This often hinders and blocks you to use your abilities and potential. You HAVE the abilities and you ARE intelligent. You just have a problem accessing that in some situations.
It is true that some disorders (down syndrome for example) affect your intelligence. This of course doesnât deprive those people of their value, yet it still is a fact. However ADHD hinders you mentally but NOT in a way that affects your intelligence.
If you fail a test, say something wrong, and so on because youâre executive functions are impaired due to your ADHD, YOU ARE NOT STUPID.
