ADHD in the news: media reporting in 2022

The Neurodevelopmental condition Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has historically received negative attention in the media in comparison to similar conditions such as Autism, Dyspraxia or Dyslexia. What is the current state of play?

It is clear there are improvements in reporting in comparison to common media reporting from the time I first started carrying out research in this area almost 25 years ago.  Most media outlets are now reporting accurate information that helps the public understand the condition and its treatment. It has been really good to see articles reference the NHS and encouraging readers to find out more about ADHD directly from NHS websites such as this recent article about a ‘Love Island’ contestant who has a diagnosis of ADHD.  

There are also very positive reports in the media about ADHD framed around the celebration of neurodiversity. An example is a recent article in the Daily Mail about Grant Denyer’s wife Chezzi and the sense of empowerment her diagnosis of ADHD gave her.    

It has been really positive to see posts on ADHD in the media recently that highlight the impact of current world issues for those with ADHD. For example, a recent article in the Guardian wrote about the findings of a study commissioned by the digital bank Monzo on the topic of ADHD and finance management. The article highlighted the particular challenges adults with ADHD are having in the context of the cost of living crisis.  Importantly the article featured life experiences of 3 adults with ADHD who spoke about things that made finance management easier for them. This included digital visual reminders used by their banks and banking tools that gave them control and transparency.   

There is still a way to go. Media articles still use wording that those with neurodivergent conditions such as ADHD and autism would find disempowering such as reference to ‘suffers from’ ADHD (here and here). Often these references are contained not just in the body of the article but also within the headline.   The reference to ‘suffering’ is really at odds with the key messages of these articles which highlight the importance of understanding and embracing the condition.

Negative and/or misleading reporting about common medications used to treat ADHD is still unfortunately evident in the media. Historically there has been concerns by researchers that their explanations of findings around the effects of ADHD medication were often only partially represented, meaning that some of the facts about medication effects were distorted.

In a recent article, one media outlet reported about a celebrity who had been diagnosed with ADHD and had started medication and who had posted on social media that they were ‘feeling very buzzy’. The headline they used ‘Abbie Chatfield reveals the effects of her ADHD medication as she begins treatment almost three months after being diagnosed: Feeling very buzzy’ would seem to suggest that the impact of the medication on her was potentially negative. The importance of following our top tip of ‘Don’t Stop at the Headline’ is really highlighted with this article because as you read the article it is revealed that Abbie kept updating on social media and later reported feeling more focused and able to follow conversations better. 

If you want to find out more about ADHD the NHS has excellent summary information on their website. Organisations like the ADHD Foundation and ADDISS also have useful information and importantly links to useful resources.