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Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

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Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#21

Post by nefitty »

dataflow wrote: post #12
nefitty wrote: post #5

I got new glasses a few weeks ago. As I was being fitted, I asked the guy if there were any tools I could buy that would help me adjust my glasses myself. He asked me what I do for a living. "I'm a programmer." "Well, would you want an optician messing with your code?" People that specialize in mental health, psychiatry and brain research have concluded that ADHD is a diagnosable mental disorder. I'm glad they're doi…

> As I was being fitted, I asked the guy if there were any tools I could buy that would help me adjust my glasses myself. He asked me what I do for a living. "I'm a programmer." "Well, would you want an optician messing with your code?" That's a pretty useless response when the entire premise is that you have no idea whether the task is simple or difficult. It really only makes sense when you already kind of understa…

I should have added smiley faces or something because our exchange was pretty cordial. I cracked up when he told me the coding thing. I knew from years of firsthand experience how easily and badly messing with glasses frames can go lol

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#22

Post by dataflow »

nefitty wrote: post #21
dataflow wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> As I was being fitted, I asked the guy if there were any tools I could buy that would help me adjust my glasses myself. He asked me what I do for a living. "I'm a programmer." "Well, would you want an optician messing with your code?" That's a pretty useless response when the entire premise is that you have no idea whether the task is simple or difficult. It really only makes sense when you already kind of understa…

I should have added smiley faces or something because our exchange was pretty cordial. I cracked up when he told me the coding thing. I knew from years of firsthand experience how easily and badly messing with glasses frames can go lol

Oh I didn't mean to say it was impolite. I just meant the logic in his reasoning isn't really sound. If it was only intended in jest then it's a great conversation maker, but I thought it was worth pointing out the issue with the logic given that the ultimate goal was to apply similar logic to the OP's question.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#23

Post by emteycz »

krageon wrote: post #20
emteycz wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sorry but I don't know. I was laying down, eyes closed with light patterns blasting into them, and instructed to try to not focus on anything. Afterwards, I got a written report from the concilium (3 people were studying the recording for a few days), but that did not include these details, it's intended for layperson like me and it simply says "Conclusion: ADHD very likely, hints of Asperger syndrome too.". I in…

ADHD is absolutely measurable on an EEG (I've seen it done), but asperger is A. not a real current diagnosis and B. is not clearly measurable on an EEG AFAIK. Because of how old of a diagnosis Asperger is, I would have real doubts with one.

I was then referred to a psychologist who nearly immediately dismissed that one (and confirmed the ADHD with attention tests etc), so you're probably right.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#24

Post by dr_dshiv »

emteycz wrote: post #9
nefitty wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you get the theta-dominance signals?

I'm sorry but I don't know. I was laying down, eyes closed with light patterns blasting into them, and instructed to try to not focus on anything. Afterwards, I got a written report from the concilium (3 people were studying the recording for a few days), but that did not include these details, it's intended for layperson like me and it simply says "Conclusion: ADHD very likely, hints of Asperger syndrome too.". I in…

This is interesting but suspicious to me. EEG is not recommended for diagnosis.

https://n.neurology.org/content/87/22/2375.short

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#25

Post by emteycz »

dr_dshiv wrote: post #24
emteycz wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sorry but I don't know. I was laying down, eyes closed with light patterns blasting into them, and instructed to try to not focus on anything. Afterwards, I got a written report from the concilium (3 people were studying the recording for a few days), but that did not include these details, it's intended for layperson like me and it simply says "Conclusion: ADHD very likely, hints of Asperger syndrome too.". I in…

This is interesting but suspicious to me. EEG is not recommended for diagnosis. https://n.neurology.org/content/87/22/2375.short

That's probably why the report said only "very likely" and not "has it". Afterwards I went to a psychologist who gave me a report with "Conclusion: ADHD confirmed, ... [lengthy description of my impairment]" and referred me to a psychiatrist.

It wasn't a standard procedure. My mother works at a neurochirurgy-focused hospital clinic and the doctor who measured it basically told her "hold my beer, I can see it", and so I went to see it. It was nice because this doctor also referred me to MRI just to be safe.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#26

Post by annie_muss »

I had similar feelings when I was diagnosed. It takes time for something like this to sink in. It's also worth remembering that you don't have a point of comparison because you've always been like this.

You can try therapy. Or not. You can try medication. Or not. The diagnosis is simply more information about your situation. Talk to professionals, explore your options, reflect back on what works for you.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#27

Post by emteycz »

nefitty wrote: post #19
emteycz wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sorry but I don't know. I was laying down, eyes closed with light patterns blasting into them, and instructed to try to not focus on anything. Afterwards, I got a written report from the concilium (3 people were studying the recording for a few days), but that did not include these details, it's intended for layperson like me and it simply says "Conclusion: ADHD very likely, hints of Asperger syndrome too.". I in…

Cool. I have a consumer-grade Muse EEG thing. I learned about theta and ADHD links and thought it was probably bullshit. I figured out how to get the raw data with nodejs after years of using their app. The patterns were jaw-dropping. My graphs were all theta. It's like I'm driving my brain around with the handbrake on. It was pretty startling. I dropped that EEG project after a few hours lol I should get back to it…

None based on the EEG itself, I was referred to a psychologist who did a questionnaire with me + attention tests - I was building patterns out of small bricks based on images, repeating numerical series forwards and backwards, listening to a story and talking about it, etc. I got a much more final conclusion (the report says "ADHD confirmed") there and now I'm supposed to go to a psychiatrist with that.

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#28

Post by dmitryminkovsky »

depressionalt wrote: post #16

It is real. I've dealt with it since before the internet was a big thing. Before the web, people used to tell me that books were too much of a distraction. I highly recommend you treat it as an actual disorder because the sooner you address it, the less it will affect important parts of your life, especially your relationships.

Thank you for you answer. What effects does untreated ADHD have on relationships?

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#29

Post by DestroyADHD »

dr_dshiv wrote: post #18

As a heuristic, assume that it is never the right question to ask "Is ___ real?" Asking how it is measured, what kind of effect it has, whether the effects are meaningful, how it can be explained, whether there are more appropriate labels, what kind of alternative explanations exist, etc. Asking whether something is "real" fails even when talking about fundamental physical phenomena like gravity, math or consciousnes…

With all due respect, I have done my research on ADHD and still couldn’t come to a conclusion.

The opioid crisis was a manufactured crisis by the greedy big pharma, right? Looking at how anyone and everyone is being prescribed stimulant medicines these days, I have my reservations about this disorder

Re: Ask HN: Is ADHD Real?

#30

Post by sdze »

emteycz wrote: post #3

My ADHD is measurable on EEG (I had the appropriate medical professional do it at a hospital, not some home-made braincap). Has nothing to do with anything external IME.

One of my friends fixed his adhd with cannabis. It somehow acts paradoxically just as stimulants.
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