Changing the Conversation About ADHD

Key points

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was historically viewed as a moral failing, resulting in stigma.

ADHD individuals can excel in creativity, innovation, and adaptability—strengths that are often overlooked.

Reframing ADHD as a neurotype can improve understanding and lead to earlier diagnosis.

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer” — Henry David Thoreau

The emphasis of Western culture on self-control , productivity , punctuality, and consistency has deep historical, economic, and philosophical roots. This emphasis is so extreme that individuals who fail to master these characteristics are often ostracized for not meeting social expectations.

For individuals with attention -deficit/hyperactivity diso