A. E. Zaghi, M. Tehranipoor, and C. N. O’Brien, “Major Observations from a Specialized REU Program for Engineering Students with ADHD,” presented at the 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, LA: American Society of Engineering Education, Jun. 2016. Accessed: Dec. 19, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://peer.asee.org/major-observations-from-a-specialized-reu-program-for-engineering-students-with-adhd

Most of the available research on ADHD has traditionally focused on struggles, but fortunately, this trend is changing. We now have access to more research, including case studies, that allows us to explore the strengths of individuals with ADHD.  Many of these studies suggest that students with ADHD have the potential to be more creative than their neurotypical peers. This is attributed to their spontaneity and divergent thinking, which makes them more prone to take risks. These strengths, combined with the ability to think outside the box, enables them to think of unexpected solutions to complex problems. It is suggested that many historically significant figures who made remarkable and creative contributions to society may have had ADHD. Given that much advancement of society depends on the efforts and discoveries of engineers and researchers, increasing the representation of individuals with these exceptional capabilities in these fields would be highly beneficial.

However, a challenge exists. People with ADHD often struggle in traditional educational environments, resulting in a substantial difference in graduation rate - 9.1% for individuals with ADHD compared to 60.6% for others. Students with ADHD represent a small percentage of all engineering students, and this is not correlated with their IQ. Studies have demonstrated that when students with ADHD have been exposed to hands-on research lab activities, they are often considerably more engaged and make significant contributions. It is crucial that we recognize that the strengths of students with ADHD are often overlooked, particularly in engineering. Nevertheless, individuals with ADHD can help societal progress by leveraging their creativity and spontaneity.  It's not a coincidence that the definitions of creativity and ADHD share similarities.