These inattentive symptoms occur dually with what has been termed 'hyperfocus' by the 2019 European Consensus Statement on Adult ADHD. In ADHD, formulation and thinking can be slower than in neurotypical people (though this is not universal), and may be 'long winded or tangential'. People with ADHD may find organization (such as with paperwork) difficult, but they may hyperfocus on other interesting things such as art. They are often mimicked by similar conditions involving executive dysfunction or emotional dysregulation, and lack of diagnosis and treatment may lead to further co-morbidity.

So called ' twice exceptional' people, with high intellect and learning disabilities, may have either or both of hyperfocus and perseverative behaviours. In ADHD, it may be a coping mechanism or a symptom of emotional self-regulation. Ĭonditions associated with hyperfocus or perseveration include neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly those considered to be on the autism spectrum and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is distinguished from stereotypy (a highly repetitive idiosyncratic behaviour). In some cases, it is referred to as perseveration -an inability or impairment in switching tasks or activities (' set-shifting'), or desisting from mental or physical response repetition (gestures, words, thoughts) despite absence or cessation of a stimulus. Hyperfocus may in some cases also be symptomatic of a psychiatric condition. However, unlike hyperfocus, 'flow' is often described in more positive terms, suggesting they are not two sides of the same condition under contrasting circumstance or intellect. In some circumstances, both flow and hyperfocus can be an aid to achievement, but in other circumstances, the same focus and behavior could be a liability, distracting from the task at hand. Hyperfocus may bear a relationship to the concept of flow. Psychiatrically, it is considered to be a trait of ADHD together with inattention, and it has been proposed as a trait of other conditions, such as schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Hyperfocus on a certain subject can cause side-tracking away from assigned or important tasks. In some individuals, various subjects or topics may also include daydreams, concepts, fiction, the imagination, and other objects of the mind. Hyperfocus is an intense form of mental concentration or visualization that focuses consciousness on a subject, topic, or task.

It is under study but not empirically proven. The psychological theory around brain lateralization has been considered around hyperfocus as a mental health symptom.

Hyperfocus in children