Let's look closer at Giftedness & ADHD

The surprising ADHD trait that most 2E individuals show

“You Have ADHD.”
The words hit differently when you’ve spent your whole life being the “smart kid.”

I didn’t hear much about ADHD until I started teaching. Even then, the word “hyperactive” stood out to me and like many, my mind (pun fully intended) jumped to images of kids bouncing out of their seats, running around, and overflowing with physical energy.

So imagine my surprise when, as a grown-up gifted kid in my 30s, I was told I had ADHD…and not only that, but I showed hyperactive traits.

“Tell me more,” I said, while forcing my foot to stop tapping.

But it wasn’t just the foot-tapping or the constant repositioning in my seat that gave it away.
It was what was happening in my mind.

Like so many neurodivergent adults, I assumed the mental pace I experienced was “normal.” Didn’t everyone’s brain run 27 tabs at once? It turns out that mental hyperactivity is one of the most overlooked indicators of ADHD, especially in gifted individuals.

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What Does Hyperactivity Actually Look Like?

Yes, hyperactivity can involve nonstop movement, but it also shows up in the brain. In fact, one study that looked at teacher and parent ratings across three student groups (ADHD without giftedness, gifted without ADHD, and gifted + ADHD) found that the gifted + ADHD group scored significantly higher in hyperactivity than either of the others.

So what does this look like in 2e (twice-exceptional) kids?

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Signs of Hyperactivity in Gifted + ADHD Students

Excessive Talking
These students might talk a lot, moving rapidly from one idea to another in a way that makes perfect sense to them but leaves others struggling to keep up. It’s not just talking; it’s their brain processing out loud, often at full speed.

Talking Out of Turn
They may interrupt frequently. Oftentimes it’s not to be rude, but because they’re bursting with thoughts and don’t want to forget them. The excitement to share what they know often overrides impulse control.

Constant Movement
Not all hyperactivity looks like running laps around the classroom. It could be foot-tapping, hair-twirling, rocking, or constantly shifting positions. These small, subtle motions are often a self-regulation tool or a way to release excess energy or maintain focus.

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How Do You Know If It’s ADHD — or Something Else?

Many gifted students also experience psychomotor overexcitability (one of the Dabrowski overexcitabilities), a trait that can look like ADHD, but has different roots.

Not sure how to tell the difference? Ask yourself:

• Is this behavior consistent across multiple settings?

• Is it intense enough to be noticed by others?

If the answer is yes to both, it’s worth a closer look.

If you're curious about overexcitabilities and how they differ from ADHD, I’ve got a resource for you - use code Substack10 to save!

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Giftedness doesn’t cancel out ADHD. In fact, the two often amplify one another in surprising ways. By learning to recognize signs of mental and physical hyperactivity in gifted individuals, we open the door to better understanding, support, and self-awareness.

And sometimes, that starts with a foot that just won’t stop tapping.