Four Reasons Why Your Child’s Hyperfocus is Advantageous

AcademicAlly, LLC: April 10, 2024

As AcademicAlly, LLC marks Amazing April, we highlight the many gifts that come with having ADHD. This week, we home in on hyperfocus.

Baseball is one of America’s favorite pastimes. Played with a bat and ball, the game requires two teams of nine players-ten including a designated hitter. The action takes place on a large field with three bases and a home plate. Originally thought to have been invented by Abner Doubleday in 1839, in Cooperstown, New York, many believe the sport’s origins come from an English game, Rounders, an eighteenth-century game that was eventually altered by Alexander Cartwright. These fun facts came to my attention in a recent conversation I had with a student of mine who is a passionate baseball fan. The more he spoke, the more impressed I was, not only with his enthusiasm for the sport, but his attention to detail as it pertained to multiple facets of baseball. He knew everything there was to know about the teams in each city, how they got their names, and the history of the Louisville Slugger! This kid’s ability to focus and take a deep dive into something he loved with all of his heart and soul was astounding.

If there were ever an ADHD superpower, hyperfocus would arguably be one of the most impressive. What is hyperfocus? It is the ability to spend time thoroughly examining a particular subject, event, or person. Kids who have the gift of hyperfocus can literally spend hours, sometimes days, researching, examining, and analyzing something that interests them, at times, to the exclusion of anything else! Not only will they investigate a scientific process, but they will learn about its inception, and the fact that it was originally intended to serve a different purpose. It was only because of happenstance, that the lead researcher discovered its use for some other purpose. The student will learn about this individual and her childhood, her drive to become a scientist, and her legacy. Frequently, this in-depth investigation will yield an interesting gem like the fact that the subject of her research had originally intended to work as a beautician, but when the individual created a prototype of a cosmetic that effectively concealed scars and blemishes, her career plans took a dramatic turn, and she started a multi-billion-dollar line of cosmetics. Who knew?!

The ability to hyperfocus does pose some challenges. Some students get so lost in their journey, that they have a hard time recognizing they have gone down a rabbit hole, never to return. They fail to set limits for themselves, and suddenly, what was originally intended to serve as a 15-minute respite from their studies, has now evolved into a two-hour timeout. But here’s the thing: many of the students I speak with about this ability are cognizant of time, and they are able, in moderation, to navigate their analytical journey during times that are least intrusive to their designated study periods.

Hyperfocus is a beautiful gift, and it gives your kids an advantage over their peers. Here are the reasons why:

⦁ Multiple layers: hyperfocus allows the curious to examine the many different layers that comprise of the topic at hand. They learn about the different facets of the subject, developing a comprehensive view. They learn about a person’s life, their motivation, what inspired them to become the person they are today or the path they chose to take. They appreciate the complexities of an issue and the perspectives that make it a hot topic of conversation. This student walks away with a richer understanding of their subject and in many ways becomes an expert, able to share all they have learned with others.

⦁ Problem solving: the ability to examine and understand the many intricacies and nuances of a particular subject lends itself to excellent problem-solving skills. After all, if you understand a topic or issue, you can be prepared to offer suggestions to address the associated challenges while also effectively handling any objections or counterarguments.

⦁ Productivity: if an individual has a comprehensive view of a topic, they are empowered to go to town on any research project, paper, or presentation they receive. Most of the time, the number one challenge so many students face is not knowing where to start. By having access to multiple layers of information, they have the advantage of picking and choosing from a wide range of angles to focus their attention and direction on any given assignment.
They also feel more confident about selecting the format in which they present their vast knowledge including a paper, podcast, PowerPoint presentation, or interview.

⦁ Engagement with others: with such a deep understanding of material, a student feels more confident entering into a conversation about the subject. They are excited to share what they know with others, ready to engage in animated discussion and debate. Such civil discourse not only leads to a deeper understanding of the topic or issue at hand, but it also serves to provide new perspective, which in turn, enhances newfound respect for others and their opinions. Friendships evolve as a result of these conversations, many of which last a lifetime.

The gift of hyperfocus is the gateway to exploration and rich understanding of a subject, admired individual, or contentious current event. Kids who can home in on a subject develop a multifaceted perspective, exploring the many layers that culminate in the topic or individual of interest. This gift paves the way for increased self-esteem and self-efficacy and contributes to more meaningful relationships with others.