In a candid conversation on the talk show “IMO,” iconic musician and The Roots co-founder Questlove opened up about seeking professional testing for autism and ADHD.
Speaking with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, the Oscar-winning filmmaker described his choice to undergo formal evaluation as a “quasi-disclosure” regarding his lifelong feelings of being different. He reflected on how he spent much of his life identifying as the “outcast” or the “black sheep” of his circles, using those narratives to make sense of a deep-seated feeling of social otherness before recognizing it could be tied to neurodiversity.
A central element of this self-discovery involved revisiting his childhood behavior, particularly his intense fixation on spinning objects like records on a turntable. Questlove recalled how he would regularly find himself in a trance-like state watching vinyl spin, a repetitive comfort that serves as a common form of self-regulation or stimming within the autistic community. What initially began as an obsessive childhood quirk ultimately helped shape his legendary, encyclopedic command of music history, brilliant sense of rhythm, and career as a world-renowned DJ.
By sharing his late-stage path to diagnosis, Questlove joins a growing and necessary dialogue about neurodiversity in adults, particularly within the Black community where early symptoms are frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed due to systemic medical biases. His willingness to openly connect his creative genius to his neurodivergent traits highlights how deeply specific passions can be woven into an artist’s identity. It also underscores the profound sense of clarity and relief that can come from seeking answers later in life, providing comfort and validation for others on a similar path.