Do I Really Have ADHD? Navigating The Rise Of Self‑Diagnosis Online
When it comes to doling out criticisms, social media can feel like low-hanging fruit. But when platforms like TikTok are guiding users to diagnose themselves with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), if you’ll pardon the pun, it gets your attention. ADHD was once primarily identified in young children. These days, more and more people from adolescence to adulthood are being diagnosed — sometimes by themselves.
Online tests can be a motivating factor for people to look more closely at their needs. However, there can be real danger in allowing an algorithm to assess your health status. Screening tools can be fine, but nothing can replace the power of a hands-on evaluation by a professional.
Are Online Tests Diagnostic?
The short answer is no. That said, an online ADHD test is not without actual value. They serve as a screening tool that helps people identify potential symptoms and red flags. Such tests are helpful when taken before you meet with a professional for an assessment. To get the most thorough and accurate diagnosis, however, you’ll want to meet a professional in person.
Online ADHD tests are not diagnostic because they cannot capture the full range of information and observation needed to evaluate a person effectively. Each individual is complex and requires more than TikTok can offer. In addition, ADHD symptoms — like all mental health symptoms — can overlap with other conditions and disorders. The odds are that an online test will not make such distinctions and thus run the risk of dangerous inaccuracy.
Are Online Tests Fake News?
The short answer is sometimes. One study of TikTok videos with at least three million views discovered that more than 50 percent of them presented misleading information. How is this possible? In some cases, of course, there are bad actors at work. More often than not, the misinformation is the indirect effect of AI marketing.
Algorithms are designed to keep viewers online and engaged. Thus, some aspects of a video can be more marketable, regardless of their accuracy. If sketchy information results in more clicks and longer viewing, it matters not to the bots. Generally speaking, people will be more likely to watch a video on ADHD self-diagnosis if it keeps appearing in their feed. The result can be faulty evidence and a growing number of diagnoses.
It’s not as simple as identifying instances when you feel inattentive, distracted, fidgety, or impulsive and chalking it up to ADHD. Sure, a connection may exist, but recognizing this connection is the result of a blend of confirmation bias and clickbait.
How Is This Trend Impacting Adolescents And Teens?
For most kids in this age range, social media holds a lot of sway in their lives. If one or two classmates report being “diagnosed” with any mental health disorder, it can create a social contagion. Without proper context, a teen’s alleged diagnosis can be considered something interesting, something others want to claim. The videos get shared, the self-diagnosis expands, and the end result can be unnecessary medication and stigma.
How About Adults?
We live in a stressful digital culture that can be the direct cause of red flags that mimic a condition like ADHD. When struggling with such distressing signs, it can be tempting to seek out any explanation you can find to ease your mind. As a result, you can end up being medicated for ADHD rather than making the lifestyle changes that can relieve your discomfort.
How Can We Address This Trend?
It’s wise not to ignore symptoms that appear chronic and/or worsening. Therefore, connecting with a clinician who specializes in ADHD positions you to get the accurate evaluation you need. Contact me if you would like to learn more about ADHD Testing.
