Stupid is a word that we unfortunately hear and use way too often. Every time we say something that we didn’t think through, do something impulsively or write something that is wrong because of a lack of knowledge, we “are stupid”. At least that’s what others or even ourselves would say. And if you make quite a lot of impulsive mistakes or don’t learn enough for your tests it seems to be justified that you are stupid. Every bad grade, every wrong answer and every imprudent action manifests this even more. Meaning that especially with ADHD you get called/call yourself stupid a lot.
But are you really stupid? Stupid literally means “having or showing a great lack of intelligence or common sense”. Intelligence means “the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills”. Common sense is “good sense and sound judgment in practical matters”. If you didn’t study for a test and get a bad great, it shows that you didn’t acquired the knowledge that was needed to get a good grade. Or you just failed a test because of the inability to concentrate on the tasks and therefore you just overlooked important aspects or made careless mistakes. What it doesn’t show is your ABILITY to acquire and apply knowledge. If you’re executive dysfunction made studying, concentrating, etc. impossible it has nothing to do with stupidity.
No one would call someone who is long-sighted stupid because he was not able to read the questions on his/her assignment and therefore getting everything wrong. Nobody would call someone with a broken hand stupid because he couldn’t write an answer to a difficult question.
ADHD is literally a disorder that affects your executive functions. Activation, Focus, Effort, Emotion, Memory and Action are impaired. What is not impaired is your ability to „acquire and apply knowledge and skills“. But you’re executive functions just don’t work as they are supposed to. This often hinders and blocks you to use your abilities and potential. You HAVE the abilities and you ARE intelligent. You just have a problem accessing that in some situations.
It is true that some disorders (down syndrome for example) affect your intelligence. This of course doesn’t deprive those people of their value, yet it still is a fact. However ADHD hinders you mentally but NOT in a way that affects your intelligence.
If you fail a test, say something wrong, and so on because you’re executive functions are impaired due to your ADHD, YOU ARE NOT STUPID.