By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – December 29, 2025
Have you ever had a gut feeling you couldn’t quite explain? That subtle nudge or sense that something is off, even when you can’t pinpoint why? Those who have ADHD often may feel like their intuition is a superpower—that is, the ability to pick up on patterns or changes that others might overlook. But what is intuition, really, and how does it work for those with ADHD?
First, we have to understand attention. With ADHD, we often have a variety of attention styles—narrow attention, scanning attention, passive attention, directed attention, inward attention, and external attention. But, in this article, we’re focusing on two key types: narrow attention and scanning attention.
Narrow attention is laser-focused, like when you’re writing an email or solving a math problem. Scanning attention is more like seeing things through a wide-angle lens, taking in everything happening around you—for example, when you’re driving, focusing on the road and at the same time also noticing cars, signs, and the weather. Intuition comes from this scanning attention. It’s your brain capturing the big picture. Your working memory is comparing it to past experiences so you can recognize differences or patterns.
Let me explain it like this. Have you ever sensed something different about someone but couldn’t put your finger on it? Later, you realized they had a different hairstyle. Your scanning attention noticed the change, even before your narrow attention identified it.
Over the years, I’ve seen many of my clients with ADHD display an incredible knack for this kind of pattern recognition. Their scanning attention picks up on cues from behaviors, changes in the environment, or hidden emotions. But don’t be misled—intuition isn’t always foolproof. Cultural differences, situational nuances, or personal biases can affect how we interpret these signals.
Still, I encourage you to lean into your intuition. Pay attention to those gut feelings. Reflect on them; validate them. I’ve often trusted my own intuition—like when I approached learning in college in a way that felt natural to me though it seemed unconventional to others.
If you have ADHD, your intuition can be a powerful guide. If you’ll learn to trust it and hone your ability to interpret what your scanning attention picks up, you might be surprised to see the advantages it brings at work, in relationships, and in your day-to-day life.
Do you have any experience with intuition? I’d love to hear your thoughts and get your perspective in the comments below. If you enjoyed this insight, subscribe to Attention Talk Video for more ADHD-focused tips and strategies. In the meantime, please check out my video, ADHD: Exactly What Is Intuition, That Gut Feeling?