Smart but Stuck: Emotions in Teens and Adults With ADHD by Thomas E. Brown Ph.d. & Joe Bronzi

Author:Thomas E. Brown Ph.d. & Joe Bronzi
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781501221606
Publisher: Audible Studios on Brilliance Audio
Published: 2015-01-12T22:00:00+00:00

Brown

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V2 - 12/12/2013

7:09 P.M.

Page 146

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smart but stuck

weaker, though still in the average range, for the portions of the IQ test

that assess working memory and processing speed, two aspects of EF

often impaired in persons with ADHD. Lisa’s achievement tests for read-

ing and writing were in the average range; her math achievement was at

the lower end of the average range. These achievement test scores were

lower than would usually be predicted by such high verbal comprehen-

sion and perceptual reasoning scores on the IQ test, but this was not

surprising, given the struggles Lisa had been experiencing with teach-

ers, parents, and peers during earlier grades before she was medicated

for ADHD.

° recognizing strengths and increasing hope

When I gave Lisa and her parents the results of her IQ and achievement

testing, she responded with much pride for having scored quite high

in the verbal comprehension and perceptual reasoning portions of the

test. She said with a broad smile, “So maybe there’s some hope for me

eventually.” I emphasized that those superior scores were indicators of

her strong potential; I also showed her that despite her currently taking

medication for ADHD, there was still evidence of her difficulties with

working memory and processing speed in the testing, as well as some

significant weaknesses in some academic areas. For her, these objective

data about her cognitive abilities were important pieces of information.

She began to talk of herself as an intelligent person, someone who could

eventually do a lot better. This image of herself helped Lisa sustain hope

for her future during the many months and several years when her cur-

rent achievement was considerably below what she hoped for.

Many very intelligent students with ADHD struggle with

working memory and processing speed problems that

can be readily seen in IQ testing despite the person’s

impressive cognitive strengths.

Our ADHD research group at Yale has published studies of chil-

dren, adolescents, and adults with ADHD and high IQ which indicate

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