Why is adhd not as "respected" as other ND conditions?

[elliejjtiny]

I'm wondering if it's because autism can mean anything from what used to be called Aspergers syndrome and profound autism with profound learning disabilities and people with adhd are more likely to either not have learning disabilities or have learning disabilities with a separate diagnosis.

But Nigel Farage has been in the news again saying he is going to get rid of PIP for people with mild anxiety and adhd as their primary diagnosis. I don't think anyone gets PIP for mild anxiety, I certainly don't anyway. But adhd can be extremely debilitating and require PIP.

I think all the self and amateur diagnosis has led to a boy who cried wolf effect. It's a shame as this can be disabling for some people.

agree with @WhatNoRaisins
do you mean accepted rather than respected?
I can’t see why you would expect any health condition to be respected

No one who is self diagnosed gets PIP for anything

I think the issue is so many have ADHD symptoms from excessive screen time and poor diet. They do get mis-diagnosed with ADHD, this makes it hard to tell if genuine ADHD and means lots are questioning the entire diagnosis…

No but the average person raging against news headlines isn't likely to know that.

The chances of Farage and/or reform getting in are low. I'd be more concerned about the current incumbents. Who knows what's going to happen next.

I think its poorly understood in comparison. Although autism isnt brilliantly understood.

I think people have seen more media portrayals of autism and have an awareness that some autistic people are non verbal and incapable of living independently so realise a blanket ban on autism for benefits would be excluding mosts peoples vision of who should recieve support. Ive no doubt if they create profound autism as a category, farage would confidently include autism in his group of people not eligible.

I wonder if it’s because of the sheer number of people with ADHD and how it is increasing constantly. How can it be funded to give people money for having it when so many do?

I think it's a lot to ask of the average person on the street to have a good understanding of how these conditions cover a wide umbrella of different presentations.

It’s not increasing, it’s being diagnosed more.

From an education point of view, and as a supply teacher, I see a lot of children with impulsive behaviours being diagnosed with adhd. Until about ten or fifteen years ago these behaviours would be kept in check with much stricter consequences and supportive (and even stricter) parenting.

Maybe that wasn’t so great for the child but at least the rest of the class wouldn’t have their learning disrupted so much.

I have no particular view on it but I’m not surprised when parents are utterly pissed off that their child’s class has to be evacuated yet again because the ‘adhd kid’ is throwing chairs.

Honestly, I don’t think you should get PIP for ADHD. If you are so profoundly unwell that you need support with daily living tasks and mobility, you have more complex issues than ADHD. I say this as someone with multiple chronic illnesses including incurable cancer. I think there are a lot of people who just need to sort themselves out and get on with life even though it’s a little bit tough. Lots of people with disabilities do this (myself included) and I think we are teetering on the edge of everyone for whom life is a little bit hard just opting out.

Also if I had a penny for every friend who ‘has ADHD’ just because they find 8 hours of sitting in front of a screen working boring, I’d be rich. Are there people profoundly affected by ADHD? Sure. But it’s like we’ve stopped expecting anything to be hard anymore. Being organised and multitasking IS hard. Working a FT office job and managing a home IS hard. Just because you find these things hard doesn’t mean you have ADHD. I know so many people who are convinced they have ADHD just because life isn’t always easy, which is really patronising for everyone who does have a neurodiversity or disability than deeply impacts their daily life.

There are more people in my workplace with ADHD than without at the moment. This may say something about the industry which we are in but everyone is able to work full time and support themselves and none of them need to claim PIP. I’m unsure whether any do.

My fucking anxiety would massively lift if Nigel 'work shy gob shite' Farage did one permanently. Twat.

If it’s like DLA then you can as you don’t need a diagnosis for it. Maybe that should be what changes.

The diagnostic criteria has broadened so much that almost anyone can be ADHD. Diagnosis is not robust. It relies on self reporting of symptoms. I’m not saying people lie but many people struggle with feelings of inadequacy and an ADHD diagnosis is a way of explaining it without having to feel responsible.

Then those of us who can't get a diagnosis will be screwed. But our needs aren't suddenly more valid because someone has finally diagnosed us

Why can’t you get one? If you have it then you can get one.

Absolutely this. I’m not sure what people expected to be honest.

Tell me you know nothing about rare diseases without telling me

Not everything shows up on standard medical tests

Rare?! Are you joking? Everybody has ADHD now.

You don’t getPIP for ADHD alone. You may list it but the reality is you’re getting it for another issue.

My son has ADHD and gets PIP. He also has learning disabilities and is autistic. ADHD goes on the list of diagnoses but it’s not why he getsPIP.

It does

And adhd isnt a disease wtf

Which disease are you talking about?