ADHD is More Than Its Myths, Its Stereotypes, and Even Its Name Would Imply
It’s ADHD Awareness Month!
Photo by Markus Spiske
As an ADHD coach who has ADHD, this is an exciting month. If you're aware of ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) but aren’t sure you really understand it, you’re not alone. ADHD is often misunderstood - sometimes even by those who have it! Prevalent common stereotypes and myths contribute to misunderstanding, but even more “official” understandings of ADHD have been shown to be oversimplified and inaccurate. As we head in to ADHD Awareness Month, let’s explore how and why ADHD is so misunderstood.
Don’t believe the stereotype hype
Often when folks picture ADHD, they think of a little, white, male child, running around an elementary school classroom, unable to sit still or focus. He’s disruptive, distracted, and difficult to deal with. This stereotype has led to many myths about ADHD, often dismissing it as a moral failing (“he’s undisciplined”, “he’s just lazy”, or "he's had bad parenting”). Or if someone not fitting this stereotype suspects they might have ADHD, they might get pushback (“girls don’t get ADHD”, “aren’t you too old to have ADHD?”, “you’re way too smart/accomplished to have ADHD”). ADHD is much more diverse and complex. But bias and stereotypes play a big part in many folks with ADHD not getting the help they need. Lacking better information, many adopt these assumptions about ADHD, but they make for a minimizing, narrow, oversimplified, and frankly, harmful view. So as you expand your capacity for understanding, I invite you to challenge and unlearn harmful stereotypes.
What’s in a name?
Believe it or not, the name ADHD itself contributes to its misunderstanding. Let’s break it down. ADHD is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that affects executive function, emotional regulation, working memory, and focus, among other things. But the terms "attention deficit" and "hyperactivity" in the name suggest that people with ADHD are simply distracted and hyper. The name is an oversimplified and inaccurate description of the syndrome. Everyone’s ADHD is different, and some who have ADHD do not experience hyperactivity, while others don’t experience inattention. For many with ADHD, these two symptoms just aren’t the main factors that impact their lives day to day. Here are a few other misleading issues found in the “ADHD” moniker:
Attention dysregulation, not deficit
The endearing "Squirrel!" stereotype may resonate with some, but not all folks with ADHD. Photo by Niilo Isotalo on Unsplash
Living with ADHD doesn’t mean you lack the ability to pay attention. On the contrary, while many people with ADHD struggle with certain tasks that require sustained attention or organization, they may also have the unique ability to hyperfocus on tasks and activities that challenge them in a good way or captivate their interest. This ability to hyperfocus can lead to periods of incredible productivity and creativity. It also can lead to folks with ADHD attaining deeper understanding and mastery, making them valuable contributors to have on a team. But hyperfocus can be unpredictable, and usually can’t be turned on and off at will. So, rather than a deficit of attention, this aspect of ADHD is better explained as a dysregulation of attention.
Hyper or not…
Contrary to what the name would suggest, hyperactivity isn’t always a part of ADHD. Some struggle with attention dysregulation predominantly, while others have more issues with hyperactivity. For many others, “hyperactivity” doesn’t describe what they struggle with, but “impulsivity” or “disinhibition” does. Social factors like gender, culture, age, and station in life, among other things, might influence how much a person expresses hyperactivity or impulsivity - or doesn’t - many feel great pressure to mask these traits.
Who are you calling ‘disorder’?
ADHD is defined and identified clinically by symptoms that “interfere with functioning or development” (in other words, clinically, ADHD has to be a problem in order to be). Yes, struggles are a significant part of having ADHD. But so is the experience of having a lot of great qualities and traits that we can enjoy and put to good use. As much as ADHD can “interfere with functioning” in some contexts, it can contribute to great problem solving, personality traits, resilience, and creativity. Many world-changing innovations were hatched in the brains of folks who had (or likely had) ADHD. Some really lean in to embrace these traits, and call ADHD a “superpower”, while others oppose this term, feeling that it dismisses the real struggles we live with. It’s not really accurate, in my opinion, to label ADHD as a disorder or a superpower. It’s more like a combination of both. It’s not all good or all bad. Nor should it be thought of as abnormal or normal. It’s a difference in the way that our brains work.
Diagnosis who?
It’s all too common for folks with ADHD to have been undiagnosed and/or misdiagnosed for decades of their lives before recognizing they have ADHD. Many folks who have ADHD (or suspect that they do) have had frustrating experiences with doctors and therapists who, though licensed and technically qualified, don’t understand ADHD well enough to diagnose and treat it effectively. Then when they do find a provider who understands ADHD, the experience is like night and day. So why is ADHD still so misunderstood by so many clinicians?
A huge factor may be the diagnostic criteria provided in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (or “DSM”), the book relied on by many clinical professionals to recognize and diagnose mental health disorders. One ADHD expert, Dr. William Dodson, puts it plainly - “the DSM simply does not describe ADHD as the rest of us experience it”. The DSM had its 5th and latest revision more than 10 years ago, in 2013. Even at that time, ADHD experts (in research and medicine) offered up decades of independent research to provide and support the cause for a more robust, descriptive, and accurate understanding of ADHD. Dr. Russell Barkley, another well-recognized expert on ADHD, was involved in the process and has written and lectured extensively on the inaccuracy of the DSM’s current diagnostic criteria for ADHD, urging clinicians to use more reliable means for diagnosis and treatment.
Currently, a set of “adult ADHD guidelines” is being developed by a task force commissioned by the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD). Of course, this is no small feat, and it’s not surprising that the promised release date has been delayed by a year. ADHD is still drastically understudied in many key populations, including women and people of color, and even adults, due to the DSM being based on symptoms seen in children. While I do not diagnose ADHD, I believe the effort to better define ADHD clinically is very important and deserves more attention, as it could help correct the broader misunderstanding of ADHD, and help more folks get connected with the help they need.
There’s much more to say and know about the misunderstanding of ADHD than I’ve covered here. ADHD is multifaceted and different for everyone who lives with it. The first step in understanding ADHD is seeing beyond the stereotypical labels, unlearning the myths, and recognizing that it is a multifaceted and nuanced condition that’s different for everyone who lives with it. That it comes with challenges, but also strengths, and many factors of life with ADHD are still yet to be recognized in clinical settings. This ADHD Awareness Month, I hope you’ll join me in committing to continue our learning about ADHD, and helping spread awareness, not myths.
