To wonder about the huge rise in people being diagnosed with ADHD?

[Starryskiesinthesky]

I am genuinely curious to understand why so many people are now being diagnosed, or self identifying with, having ADHD.

Is it just being recognised now with an awareness in neurodiversity or is everything labelled these days?

My son has dyslexia / a specific spelling difficulty and I suspect he has ADD/ADHD but wouldn't be severe enough to warrant medication. At what stage do we move from differences / traits to diagnosis? It does feel a bit like many aspects of our behaviour become medicalised.

I guess my AIBU is to wonder if too many people think they have ADHD/are neurodiverse these days?

I know this is an old thread, but I'm using this rather than start a new one. :)

Was wondering about the rapid rise of ADHD diagnoses. This website is pretty interesting: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/finding-purpose/202208/the-real-reason-everyone-seems-to-have-adhd-these-days It says that there's a natural range of executive function. Modern society favours high levels of focus, patience and organisation that wasn't necessary in earlier societies.

It is also unavoidably influenced by the sociocultural context in which the individual is expected to function. Modern developed countries require people to have the ability to sustain high levels of focus, organization, time management, and planning, for successful functioning in many types of activities. These requirements have been steadily increasing as societies have become increasingly complex, specialized, and productive.