ADHD, AuDHD, and self-diagnosis: Is it valid? | Sorry, I Missed This

Is ADHD self-diagnosis valid? According to clinical psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Kilmer, that’s the wrong question entirely. When access to diagnosis is limited by cost, insurance, stigma, and identity — and when the people who self-diagnose show higher rates of negative self-image and internalized stigma — the real conversation isn’t about validity. It’s about how we make sure people have access to good information. Cate and Dr. Kilmer dig into what really happens when people research their own neurodivergence. They discuss research analyzing 452,000 Reddit posts that found self-diagnosed individuals seek more social validation. But they benefit less from it. They cover what actually happens in a clinical ADHD assessment and how comorbidities like anxiety, depression, and OCD complicate the picture. And they discuss why the question “Is self-diagnosis valid?” misses the point when getting a formal diagnosis is a privilege that many can’t access. For more on this topic Read: Missed, misread, misdiagnosed: Current state of women with ADHD https://www.understood.org/en/researc... Listen: Is ADHD online diagnosis legit? https://www.understood.org/en/podcast... For a transcript and more resources, visit Sorry, I Missed This on Understood.org. https://www.understood.org/en/podcast... You can also email us at [email protected]. Questions about learning and thinking differences? Get answers and expert-vetted resources by asking the AI-powered Understood Assistant: https://www.understood.org/en/assista... Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at https://www.understood.org/en/donate?... For more resources, support, and excellent memes, subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on: Instagram:   / understoodorg   Facebook:   / understood   TikTok:   / understood.org   Pinterest:   / understoodorg   #ADHD #Neurodivergent #MentalHealthTikTok #ADHDDiagnosis #AuDHD