People with ADHD sometimes experience hyperfocus, a state of intense concentration on a single task. While this presents challenges, certain strategies can help people with ADHD benefit from this state.

A common symptom of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adults is difficulty focusing at length on the task at hand. People with ADHD are often easily distracted, making it difficult to give sustained attention to a specific activity, assignment, or chore.

However, people with ADHD may also be more prone to an experience known as hyperfocus, which involves deep and intense concentration on a task.

Keep reading to learn more about hyperfocus and how it might affect the lives of both children and adults with ADHD.

Hyperfocus is the state of being completely absorbed in a task. Because people in hyperfocus are so deep in concentration, they often appear to ignore everything around them.

This might mean a child doesn’t notice a parent or teacher calling their name while they’re engrossed in a video game. Or an adult might lose track of time because they’ve been practicing the piano so intensely or researching something online.

Other terms for the experience include “hyperfixation,” “flow,” or “being in the zone.” However, there may be subtle differences between the terms.

Anyone can experience hyperfocus. However, it may be more common in people with:

Hyperfocus may seem counterintuitive to your typical idea of ADHD symptoms.

ADHD isn’t necessarily a deficit of attention but rather a problem regulating one’s attention span to desired tasks. So, while mundane tasks may be difficult to focus on, others may be completely absorbing.

A person with ADHD who may not be able to complete homework assignments or work projects may instead be able to focus for hours on video games, sports, or reading.

Is hyperfocus a symptom of ADHD?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) does not recognize hyperfocus as an official symptom of ADHD. This may be because it’s not specific enough to ADHD and may not be directly due to ADHD.

Still, some experts think it may be a core symptom, as most people with ADHD report hyperfocus experiences.

People with ADHD may immerse themselves so completely in an activity they enjoy that they become oblivious to everything around them. This concentration can be so intense that they lose track of time, other chores, or the surrounding environment. But there may also be benefits to this concentration.

Benefits of hyperfocus in ADHD

Sometimes, the person may be able to channel this level of intensity into difficult tasks, such as homework or a creative project.

Potential benefits of hyperfocus include:

  • increased productivity on enjoyable tasks
  • improved resourcefulness for solving specific problems
  • increased motivation for tasks the person finds engaging
  • enhanced learning and retention for subjects of interest

Challenges of hyperfocus in ADHD

The downside is that people with ADHD might become immersed in unproductive activities while ignoring pressing responsibilities.

Unrestrained focus on unproductive tasks can lead to:

It may be difficult to rouse a child from a period of hyperfocus, but it’s crucial in regulating ADHD. Like all ADHD symptoms, hyperfocus requires delicate management.

Here are some suggestions for managing your child’s hyperfocus:

  • Explain to your child that hyperfocus is part of their condition. This may help them see it as something they need to manage.
  • Create and enforce a schedule for common hyperfocus activities. For instance, limit time spent watching television or playing video games.
  • Help your child find an interest that will remove them from isolated time and foster social interaction, such as music or sports.
  • While it may be difficult to pull a child out of a state of hyperfocus, try using markers, such as the end of a TV show, as a signal to refocus their attention. Unless something or someone interrupts them, hours can drift by when they might forget important tasks, appointments, or relationships.

Adults with ADHD also have to manage hyperfocus on the job and at home. Here are some tips for managing:

  • Prioritize daily tasks and accomplish them one at a time. This can keep you from spending too much time on any one job.
  • Set a timer to keep yourself accountable and to remind you of other tasks you need to complete.
  • Ask a friend, colleague, or family member to call or email you at specific times. This helps break up intense periods of hyperfocus.
  • Enlist family members to turn off the television, computer, or other distractions to get your attention if you get too immersed.

Hyperfocus is a state of intense concentration, to the point of ignoring everything else around you. While anyone can experience hyperfocus, it may be more common in people with ADHD. While hyperfocus presents some challenges, people with ADHD can learn to manage it.

The best way to cope with hyperfocus is not to fight it by forbidding certain activities, but rather to harness it. Making work or school stimulating can capture your focus in the same way as your favorite activities.

This may be difficult for a growing child, but can ultimately become advantageous for an adult in the workplace. By finding a job that caters to one’s interests, a person with ADHD can truly shine, using hyperfocus to their advantage.