social media is convincing all our kids they are nd?

[AuntMarch]

I've just been sat on the bus and the tiktok videos I'm hearing almost have me seeking a diagnosis.
"ADHD TEST" Put a finger down if you've ever focused on something so much you've lost track of time/ sometimes think you talk too much or not enough.."
it's basically covered every possible behaviour and it's video after video.

it's no wonder every kid thinks they have something.

you haven't answer HOW it is possible to "mask" (ie control) condition which is defined by lack of control?

I deal with students with disabled by ADHD. Not one of them could "mask" for 30 seconds.

I think people who can "mask" need to stop saying they have ADHD. They may have something, but it isn't anything like ADHD. They need a different name.

In the past week I've been social-media-diagnosed with 3 types and neuro-diversity. On the plus side, I also have a genius level IQ apparently.

Masking is present in lots of mental health difficulties I think. It's really taken off in the ADHD narrative recently.

but nobody can explain how it is possible to mask a condition defined by being unable to concentrate and control yourself. Masked ADHD is an oxymoron

Trying telling that to the autism and ADHD community battling with both. Autism is a protected disability .

No one gets a mobility car purely because they have a diagnosis of ADHD or autism.
My dd did

No it will be due to the difficulties the autism or ADHD caused. My son was diagnosed at 3 and already got DLA but he didn't get the higher mobility rate until he was much older.

What's interesting is the ADHD diagnosis is that you can't change the masking. Like, in one school of thought, masking would be thought of as something to change - to become more authentic essentially, but I think in ADHD thinking, it's saying masking is not something that can be changed. I think going back to why adhd diagnosis is something inherently concerning imo in children is because the whole narrative around it, is that it is fixed. Unchangeable. And given children are developing I think diagnosis should only be given if absolutely necessary.

No, I suppose it's pretending? When all you really want to do is be disorganised? So as the pp said, scrabbling around being disorganised but trying to look organised. I agree it's tenuous.

Increased awareness means that some adults are diagnosed later in life and some girl are diagnosed earlier than they would have been previously. This is a minority though as autism isn't as prevalent as people would like us to believe for whatever reason. Adding: this is a VERY GOOD thing. As undiagnosed ASD and ADHD leads to poor mental health, no doubt.

However, while some adults are benefitting from recognising their ND even if later in life, so, so many are just full of it. Just because you're weird, anxious, have poor social skills and are overbearing does NOT mean you have autism or adhd. It perhaps just means you aren't that nice.

It's incredibly concerning you work with students when you don't believe professionals.

ADHD presents in many different ways. For some, the hyperactivity is internal, the mind can't focus or settle.

But anyone who has basic knowledge of the condition would know this.

By absolutely necessary I guess you mean - how boys present. Girls are far more likely to mask and it’s massively damaging. They can look ok on the surface and be pedalling like a swan underneath. If my dd had been diagnosed and been given access to medication far earlier she would absolutely have avoided severe mental illness. There are many like her.

you have just dodged the question.

Masked ADHD is an oxymoron.

I didn't say about girls or boys I said if absolutely necessary. It's a weigh up thing. As medication often is.

Having spent my life trying to pretend everything is fine a mnd normal when it wasn't, I guess I am a walking oxymoron.

.

But girls often hide it and are not ok underneath. So will often look on the surface as not necessary when they absolutely are. Why should we suffer in silence? My dd was expected to suck up huge difficulties because she didn’t bother anybody else and could be ignored.

I guess I might ask why do girls feel the need to mask? What is it? Is it that they don't want to do the things society expects them to do? In which case, wouldn't it be better to change what we expect if girls. So I guess it's do we pathologise the girl and say it's something inherently 'neurodiverse' about her? Or do we change the society so that the girl doesn't have to mask. Pathologising children is something that needs careful consideration.

Autism amd adhd have been around for a very long time.

Auditory processing disorder is about far more than being distracted by background noise. To think that is all it is shows a lack of understanding.

I have 2 DSs with it (diagnosed by the NHS). It results in a wide range of difficulties. They receive support, including via a Teacher of the Deaf, for it via their EHCPs. They wouldn’t receive that if it was just the same as everyone.

How people can mask varies. It can be by forcing yourself to mimic others, by role playing situations and conversations beforehand, by suppressing urges/impulses (which is not the same thing everyone does, before you say that. It is exhausting and goes well beyond typical. For example, someone may do it by sitting rigidly still. Whereas someone typically doesn’t sit so rigidly when sitting sit. Or they may pinch themselves or bite their cheek to stop themselves moving.) which can lead to the coke bottle effect afterwards (which is not the same thing as everyone else). Or it can be by being in a state of hyper-vigilance (which can cause problems longer term). Or by disconnecting with the world. Masking is not an oxymoron. To think that shows ignorance about how ADHD can present and masking.

also to add, apart from the fact you have totally dodged the question about "Masked ADHD" being an oxymoron, you have said I "don't believe" the "professionals".

Firstly, be careful about what you mean by "professionals" as there are a lot of charlatans out there.

And secondly , there is no consensus about what any of this ND stuff means between any "genuine" (ie medically qualified) professionals anyway.

You can't be in agreement with "the professionals" when they are not in any sort of agreement with each other

Men and boys canmask too, both my sons did. Catastrophically. If you don’t mask you will get into trouble at school and lose jobs.

My dc’s NHS MDT teams, psychs etc are very much on the same page. As a result the progress my daughter has been making is fantastic.