All posts tagged: ADHD

ADHD: The Hard Part Isn’t Focus—It’s Choosing the Station

ADHD: The Hard Part Isn’t Focus—It’s Choosing the Station

Published by Jenni Sidey

I think the medical establishment has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) all wrong. It hit me the other day in the shower: The truest description of the ADHD mind isn’t a deficit at all—it’s a radio. I’ve spent my career studying attention and creativity, and while I’ve never been formally diagnosed, I know this dial intimately, from the inside. Let me tell you what it actually feels like. I suspect a lot of my readers will relate. When I finally lock onto something, the world narrows to a single bright band of signal. The room goes quiet, not because it’s silent but because I’ve stopped receiving it. Hours collapse into what feels like 20 minutes. Someone can say my name twice, and I won’t surface. I am not trying to concentrate; there is nothing effortful about it. I am simply, completely, there. People sometimes call this discipline. It isn’t. It’s closer to being pulled under. That’s one half of my attention. The other half is the part nobody romanticizes: I often can’t choose which station to tune …

9 Things People With ADHD Do That Seem Odd But Are Actually Pretty Genius

9 Things People With ADHD Do That Seem Odd But Are Actually Pretty Genius

Published by Jenni Sidey

People with ADHD are often labeled as odd. Always fidgeting and walking around with their head in the clouds, people with this particular condition have gotten a very specific bad rep. While they may be viewed as difficult to work with by many who aren’t curious and empathetic enough to consider what’s really going on, you might be surprised to know that having ADHD isn’t all that bad. From the outside, these behaviors may seem off-putting, but several things people with ADHD do that seem odd at first glance are actually pretty genius when you stop to think about it. Here are 9 things people with ADHD do that seem odd but are actually pretty genius 1. Hyperfocusing on seemingly random things PeopleImages | Shutterstock If there’s one thing about people who have ADHD, it’s that their focus seems to be all over the place. According to the ADDA, “Many ADHDers experience brain fog due to their ADHD symptoms, which can include poor focus, impulsivity, or forgetfulness.” On the flip side, these same people become …

A new AI tool spots hidden signs of adult ADHD months before a formal diagnosis

A new AI tool spots hidden signs of adult ADHD months before a formal diagnosis

Published by José Betancourt

Scientists have developed a new artificial intelligence tool that can predict whether an adult has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder by looking at their past medical records. The predictive model suggests that subtle patterns in everyday healthcare visits can identify undiagnosed individuals months before a doctor formally spots the condition. This research was recently published in the journal European Psychiatry. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common neurodevelopmental condition that affects roughly 5 to 7.2 percent of children and about 2.5 percent of adults globally. People with this condition experience varying degrees of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with daily life. Getting a proper diagnosis as an adult tends to be quite difficult. Doctors often struggle to identify the condition in older patients because the symptoms frequently overlap with other mental health challenges. When a diagnosis is delayed, individuals often experience academic or work impairments, increased accident rates, and a lower overall quality of life. An earlier diagnosis provides evidence-based opportunities for pharmacological treatment and therapy, which helps prevent many of these negative outcomes. Artificial intelligence has …

Why ADHD May Not Always Look the Way Clinicians Expect

Why ADHD May Not Always Look the Way Clinicians Expect

Published by Jenni Sidey

A young West African woman recently came to see me for an ADHD assessment after moving to the UK to begin a Master’s programme. Before the appointment, as is fairly typical practice in many adult ADHD services, she completed a pre-assessment questionnaire based on the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). A parent informant questionnaire was also completed by her father. At first glance, the questionnaires did not suggest ADHD. Most individuals who ultimately meet criteria for ADHD tend to endorse multiple symptoms as occurring “often” or “very often.” This woman rated almost all symptoms as only “sometimes” or “rarely”. Her father answered “no” to virtually every informant question asking whether she showed difficulties beyond what would be expected for someone her age. Looking at the forms prior to the assessment, she seemed unlikely to meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. But clinical assessment is not simply about scoring questionnaires. It is also about understanding context — and questioning what we think we are observing. As we spoke, a more complex picture emerged. She described growing …

Prenatal air pollution linked to ADHD symptoms in school-age children, but not clinical diagnosis

Prenatal air pollution linked to ADHD symptoms in school-age children, but not clinical diagnosis

Published by José Betancourt

A study of children from Tarragona, Spain, found that higher prenatal exposure to air pollution (PM10 and PMcoarse particles, NO2, and NOx gases) was associated with modestly higher teacher-reported ADHD symptom scores in school-age participants. However, the study did not find an association between air pollution exposure and a clinical ADHD diagnosis. The paper was published in Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology. Air pollution is the presence of harmful substances in the air, such as gases, particles, smoke, and chemical pollutants. It can come from traffic, factories, power plants, heating systems, agriculture, fires, and natural sources such as dust storms. Air pollution is typically described in terms of the substances that comprise it and the size of the particles in the air. For example, PM2.5 refers to very small airborne particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. These particles are especially concerning because they can enter deep into the lungs and may even pass into the bloodstream. PM10 refers to particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less, including dust, pollen, …

People With ADHD Are Actually Fantastic At Creative Problem-Solving

People With ADHD Are Actually Fantastic At Creative Problem-Solving

Published by Jenni Sidey

ADHD is often thought about in terms of negative stereotypes associated with the condition. People with the diagnosis are believed to be impulsive and have trouble concentrating, even if there’s no real evidence that shows that’s true for that specific person. A new study, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, proved that one thing people with ADHD have long been told was not one of their strengths actually is. Hopefully this evidence will help dispel some of the myths and stigma people still attach to the common condition. The research showed that people with ADHD have great creative problem-solving skills. According to a report on the study from Earth.com, Drexel University researchers wanted to test the hypothesis that “people with strong ADHD symptoms often appear unusually inventive.” To do this, they had a group of 299 students complete what’s known as the Compound Remote Associates test. For this test, participants are shown three words that initially appear unrelated, and then asked to choose a fourth word that connects them all. An example would …

Should SATs Be Scrapped? These Parents Are Calling For Change

Should SATs Be Scrapped? These Parents Are Calling For Change

Published by Sam Flores

EastEnders actress Kellie Bright is leading the charge for SATs to be scrapped in schools. In England, SATs – or standard assessment tests – may be taken twice during primary school: once when kids are six or seven (at the discretion of the school), and again when they’re 10 or 11 (these are compulsory). It’s a way for the government to measure a school’s performance and give secondary schools an indication of how well a child’s doing in maths and English before they move up. With Year 6 SATs currently underway (starting 11 May), a collective of parents, particularly those with children with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities), are calling for the exams to be scrapped for good due to the overwhelm, anxiety and stress they cause. It comes after Childline revealed May is the peak season for children to call the service about exam stress – between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026; the free, confidential service for kids delivered 1,679 counselling sessions where exam or revision stress was mentioned. The majority …

Antidepressants in pregnancy do not raise children’s risk of autism or ADHD, study finds | Pregnancy

Antidepressants in pregnancy do not raise children’s risk of autism or ADHD, study finds | Pregnancy

Published by Sam Flores

Taking antidepressants during pregnancy does not increase the risk of children going on to develop autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to an analysis of more than half a million pregnancies. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Hong Kong and published in the Lancet Psychiatry, analysed data from 37 existing studies that included 600,000 pregnant women who had taken antidepressants, and 25 million women who had no antidepressant use during their pregnancies. Before controlling for key factors such as pre-existing mental health conditions, the analysis found that antidepressant use by the mother during pregnancy was associated with a 35% increased risk of ADHD and a 69% increased risk of autism. However, when controlling for confounding factors such as pre-existing mental health conditions, this risk became non-significant. This means the meta-analysis found no significant link between antidepressant use during pregnancy and a greater risk of autism and ADHD in children, after controlling for the mother’s mental health or other influencing factors such as genetics. Dr Wing-Chung Chang, a professor at the …

10 Exhausting ADHD Traits That Actually Make People More Powerful In This Era

10 Exhausting ADHD Traits That Actually Make People More Powerful In This Era

Published by Jenni Sidey

ADHD traits are somewhat misunderstood in many ways, not just between “strengths” and “weaknesses,” but also in how they manifest in different circumstances and people. We cling to a societal expectation and stereotype about who these people are, even if, in reality, they’re much more nuanced. For example, many of the exhausting ADHD traits they deal with regularly are actually things that make people feel powerful in this era of our world. From extraversion to hyperfocus on niche interests, their personality traits are unique superpowers. Here are 10 exhausting ADHD traits that actually make people more powerful in this era 1. They’re full of energy and extraversion Monkey Business Images | Shutterstock Part of the reason why so many people with ADHD are at risk for fatigue syndromes and burnout is that they’re always operating on a higher energetic level. Especially when their energy and extraversion come in waves when they’re hyperactive, the draining feeling that comes after they take a step back can be exhausting as a cycle. Extraversion is a gift and a curse …

Childhood ADHD traits linked to midlife distress, with societal exclusion playing a major role

Childhood ADHD traits linked to midlife distress, with societal exclusion playing a major role

Published by José Betancourt

A recent study published in the journal Nature Mental Health suggests that children exhibiting high levels of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder traits are more likely to experience psychological distress up into middle age. The research provides evidence that this long-term mental health burden is partly driven by societal exclusion. Systemic barriers, such as limited access to healthcare, social support, and financial stability, seem to play a major role in this process. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, commonly known as ADHD, is a condition involving differences in how a person manages attention, regulates activity levels, and controls impulses. Scientists recognize that individuals with ADHD often face higher risks of mental health challenges. Most previous research on this topic has heavily focused on childhood or early adulthood. Amber John, a lecturer at the University of Liverpool, wanted to understand the different paths that mental health can take over a person’s entire lifespan. “There is growing recognition that ADHD is a lifelong condition, but much of the research still focuses on childhood and early adulthood,” John said. “I was …