Stanisland Magazine

As ADHD and other conditions, such as Autism, become more recognised, are we overdiagnosing or accepting the wrong classification?

There is no doubt that awareness of ADHD is on the rise, and this has fostered a greater understanding of those living with the condition and has underlined how the working world can support them. While much of this is a positive step, there remains a regressive effect from it.

The TikTok effect

Most awareness to ADHD and other neurological disorders can be attributed to greater accessibility to information thanks to social media. This has fostered an acceptance of individuals to recognise it in themselves, which could lessen the stigma in society. Though this is fantastic, there are caveats.

Cognitive bias and misdiagnosis

There are nuances that are largely overlooked. For example, some symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions. Not only can this lead to misidentifying neurological disorders, but it can also potentially lead people believing they’re living with a diagnosis they don’t actually have. This can make life challenging, not only for them, but others.

Most social media users make up a large share of self-diagnoses, and are often influenced by their personal biases. This is the reason healthcare professionals undergo intensive training to interpret the symptoms of neurological conditions. Without consulting the right people, we can often adopt labels based on preconceived notions instead of opting for an objective assessment. Medical professionals see hundreds of patients every year and offer an uninvested option to evaluate without prejudice.

Be critical of social ‘expertise’

Some people will watch a video on ADHD only to be bombarded with adverts about products and apps that claim to support the condition. This only serves to reinforce already acquired information that may or may not be an accurate portrayal of the disorder. This in turn effectively ‘markets’ the condition to people who have been primed to accept the notion that they may have it.

Once you have interacted with ADHD or “neurodivergent” content, you’re likely to be fed more of the same, just as with any other topic. This can create the illusion of deeper meaning or engagement, leading to a short-term interest. We also have to remember that positive reinforcement of having a self-diagnosis can also lead to the reinforcement that you actually have a condition.

Neurodiversity as an umbrella term

As ADHD is given a bigger platform, terms such as “neurodivergent”, “neurodiverse,” and “neurodiversity” have become a part of the common lexis. Even though they come from a good place of inclusivity, these terms risk diluting these conditions through the standardisation of their symptoms and do not reflect the reality of the situation.

As usage of these terms increases, they can often misrepresent the nuances of these conditions, especially from an outsider’s perspective. It is often reminiscent of the dismissively offensive remark “Aren’t we all bait autistic?” which acts to blur the lines between genuine neurodevelopmental differences within everyday personality traits.

Final thoughts

Some people may even believe they have a condition, due to external influences or social reinforcement. This means, even if they haven’t been medically diagnosed, it can negatively impact their lives.

While it is great there is strong support for ADHD, and other neurological conditions, there remains a danger that can reduce the support the diagnosed requires.

The healthcare system is already overwhelmed, and those who genuinely live with neurodevelopmental disorders are unable to access services that can make their lives easier. This includes prescription medicines.

Diagnosing some conditions like ADHD in adults can be difficult due to accumulated life experiences that influence self-perception. While this isn’t a bad thing, announcing one has a particular condition without a proper diagnosis may influence others, leading to a potential backlash as it is essentially self-prescribed.

In short, social media is not a medical professional, and self-diagnosing should not be left to the general public, whose expertise is far from that of a specialist. It’s incredible that reception has been heightened and that many are more accepting of said conditions, but we must exercise caution and remain critical when probing a suspected outcome.