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Jeff Karp is a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and the Canadian Academy of Engineering, a professor at Harvard Medical School and MIT, and the Distinguished Chair of Anesthesiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is the author of LIT (Life Ignition Tools): Use Nature’s Playbook to Energize Your Brain, Spark Ideas, and Ignite Action.
Growing up, I always felt like an outlier. As a young boy, I was the epitome of restlessness and distraction, often lost in my own world, struggling to focus on school work. My education was like a DIY roller coaster without a safety harness. Prior to Grade 7, when I was identified as communications disabled with ADHD, I was frequently labelled as “lazy” and “a lost cause” by my teachers. I often felt like I didn’t belong in the classroom, as I struggled to keep up with my peers.
The hardest part wasn’t the learning itself, but the way some teachers would shame me for not fitting into their conventional mould. One teacher put blinders – an upright folding panel – on my desk and said, “There – you can’t look elsewhere, you don’t have any distractions,” – and then she got out her stopwatch and timed me, which made me anxious. She did that in front of the class, and everyone made fun of me, following her lead. I was teased a lot.
One day I noticed another student struggling with math problems. I wanted to help, so I walked over to try to show him how to do the work. The teacher quipped, “Well, isn’t that like the blind leading the blind?” I was confused. What did it mean for a blind person to lead a blind person? I wasn’t blind! Why had she said that? That night, I asked my mother. She sat me down on the edge of her bed, took a breath, and said, “Your teacher is a jerk. But you still have to respect her. You have to do your best.”
I wanted to explore, roam, see and touch. It was impossible for me to sit in a chair for hours and listen. “Pretend your bottom is glued to your chair,” my kindergarten teacher encouraged. Okay, I thought. I can do that! I wrapped my fingers around the bottom of my seat, held it against my rear, stood and waddled around the room as my classmates giggled. The teacher sent me to the principal’s office. I got to know the principal pretty well that year.
My mother tried phonics, flash cards, everything, but as the school year ended, my teacher recommended that I repeat the grade. Desperate to help me, my parents enrolled me in a summer school for children with learning disabilities, and it’s there that my life took an unexpected turn. Rather than pushing me for the right answers, as my teachers had, a special education tutor asked, “How did you think about that?” This question was entirely new to me, and the first step in a journey of self-discovery and learning to thrive with my neurodiversity.
My childhood encounters with nature contributed to the beginning of understanding my unique way of processing information. By experiencing deep focus, I realized that the natural world could intensely capture my interest. It was as if I had “pinched” my brain into focus, filling me with energy, curiosity and a new-found sense of purpose. This fascination with nature’s “pinches” would later help define my career path in biology-inspired medical problem-solving. These experiences taught me to harness my inherent curiosity and transform my perceived weaknesses into strengths.
I soon discovered the silver lining of my neurodivergence. My ability to hyperfocus became my superpower, especially when I channelled it by asking questions. I discovered how to wield questions with the versatility of a Swiss Army knife. A sharp question could pry the lid open on a conversation, cut to the core of a matter or tighten the screws of a loose concept. I found that questions could accelerate a conversation or slow it down to allow time for reflection. I used questions as fire starters to generate the spark for dialogue, exploration, critical and creative thinking, and curiosity. This “Swiss Army knife” approach to questioning became my steadfast companion as I navigated the diverse challenges of high school, undergraduate studies and ultimately graduate school. Asking questions that invite discussion as opposed to searching for one “right” answer suited my brain and became a means for me to advance both in the classroom and, later, professionally.
By asking open-ended questions about topics that genuinely intrigued me, I was able to delve deeper and gain critical insights. For example, in my laboratory we transformed the closed-ended question, “Do porcupines shoot their quills through the air?” into an open-ended format, asking instead, “How do porcupines use their quills as a defence mechanism?” This question invites a discussion about the mechanics of how quills are used in self-defence, the common misconceptions about quills being “shot,” and the evolutionary aspects of this unique defence strategy.
For those who are neurodivergent like me, with conditions such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia and more, tapping into our inherent strengths can be a transformative journey. The key is to start by embracing our differences rather than seeing them as shortcomings and keeping ourselves attuned to our innate tendencies. Practising introspection can be a great starting point, helping us to tune in to our unique ways of thinking and processing information. I occasionally write in a journal or text message myself to track patterns in my thoughts and behaviours, shedding light on my inclinations.
I have also found that engaging in activities that genuinely interest me can reveal my areas of hyperfocus and passion, which are often aligned with my neurodivergent strengths. One of these is picking up on the processes that others use to engage the world. For example, the question I was asked by the tutor in summer school sparked not only an exploration in metacognition – thinking about thinking, which helped me construct better answers – but also a realization that I could learn by examining how others process and articulate their thoughts and answers. By observing and imitating others, I’ve amassed a plethora of tools to maximize efficiency, organization and productivity. Furthermore, I have discovered that seeking feedback from trusted friends or mentors who understand and appreciate my neurodiversity can provide useful external feedback on my unique talents and capabilities. By combining introspection with practical strategies, we can uncover and nurture our neurodivergent strengths, turning them into powerful tools for success and fulfilment.
While I’ve forged tools to manage my neurodiversity, I continue to encounter significant obstacles in my relationships and interactions with others that necessitate ongoing attention, effort and evolution. For example, my ADHD inadvertently led to struggles with my wife, Jessica, a reality I initially failed to recognize. Jessica found immense value in attending sessions specifically for partners of people with ADHD. In these gatherings, she listened to others share their experiences, which had a profound effect on her.
It was a revolution for Jessica when she realized she wasn’t losing her mind; others were going through the same thing. She found my constant pursuit of heightened experiences overwhelming and difficult to keep pace with; I’d say I needed “just five minutes more” to finish something but it would turn into hours. Suddenly, she realized she wasn’t alone in her struggles and challenges, just as I was not alone in mine. These stories she heard echoed our life, underscoring that what we were experiencing was not unique, but rather a common thread among those dealing with ADHD. More than anything, these sessions illuminated the reality of ADHD – that it wasn’t just some abstract concept or exaggerated problem, but a genuine condition with distinct characteristics. This understanding brought clarity as we navigated this reality together.
As we continue to break down the stigmas associated with neurodiversity, let us remember that diversity in thought and perspective is not just valuable – it’s essential for innovation and progress. According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 15 to 20 per cent of the population exhibits some form of neurodivergence, but sadly, many of these individuals do not receive the attention or support they need. The unique perspectives and innovative thinking of neurodiverse individuals are essential to addressing and solving some of the most pressing challenges of our time.
My unique perspectives on the world have guided me through my academic journey and into a career in medical technology innovation. My lab has created multiple technologies, including a nasal spray to rapidly neutralize pathogens, a tissue glue inspired by the sticky secretions of snails and sandcastle worms that can seal holes inside a beating heart, targeted therapy for osteoarthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, needles that automatically stop between the layers of the eye to deliver gene therapy to treat macular degeneration, and more.
Many people are like me, waking up each day to face a whirlwind of impulsive decisions and chaotic thought patterns, struggling to keep up with the world. Thankfully, I had the unwavering support of my parents, who helped cultivate an essential environment for me to discover the joy of learning to navigate my challenges. Through this enlightening process of self-discovery, I have uncovered tools to identify and intercept patterns that no longer served me. I have learned to frequently push pause to carve out space for thoughtful contemplation and decision-making; how movement is essential to feel good and do my best thinking; and how to be a good mentor by cultivating an environment where others can engage their best thinking. Following nature’s holistic playbook of adapting and surmounting obstacles, I unlocked my creativity and problem-solving abilities, to spark transformative personal and professional innovation.
My story reflects the untapped potential that lies within everyone, especially those who are neurodiverse. Once we understand our distinct way of thinking, we can leverage our neurodiversity to turn it into a superpower. By embracing and supporting neurodiversity, we can expand the horizons of human potential.