Will ADHD be ‘cured’ one day? What about not needing one?

Will ADHD Be "Cured" One Day?

What If It Doesn't Need a Cure?

As we wrap up ADHD Awareness Month, let's tackle a question that's often whispered but rarely discussed openly: Should there be a cure for ADHD?

What would the world look like without 'ADHD brains'?

I argue that it would be a significant loss, and perhaps even a frightening prospect for lots of reasons.

Although I’m a strong advocate of the strengths based understanding of ADHD and autism, I don’t ever deny that many people with ADHD suffer greatly - the scary statistics I’ve shared this month are testament to how challenging life in a neurotypical world can be.

The idea of curing ADHD (or autism) raises massive ethical questions. A study by Singh looked into the ethical implications of ADHD treatment, questioning whether we should aim to "normalise" neurodivergent people.

Surely the whole idea of ‘NORMAL’ itself is the problem - If we know that there are many, many undiagnosed people of all ages, the concept of a standard brain starts to look unlikely. Instead, we have a range of neurotypes - and some will be closer to the ‘average’ than others?

What Would a "Cure" Entail?

Arguing that there are some people who feel that their ADHD is so disabling they would happily change it - what could we look at in the near or far future?

1. Pharmacological Treatments: Medication can manage symptoms but doesn't "cure" ADHD. Indeed, Dr Barkley (and many people who use medication) say that it reduces the impact of ADHD so that it’s almost not noticeable… at least until the medication runs out or is unavailable.

2. Gene Editing: Technologies like CRISPR could theoretically eliminate ADHD traits, but at what cost? The ethical implications are vast and largely unexplored. How could we ever experiment on humans in a way that anyone would think was acceptable? What if, in removing the 500+ genes that we now believe are connected to the constellation of ADHD traits, we remove them from the person who discovers a kind of energy or environmental protection that saves the lives of every person on the planet - in one of their DMN/daydream leaps of insight?

3. Behavioral Modification: Programs like CBT can help manage symptoms but don't change the underlying neurodiversity. Indeed, they themselves have to be heavily modified in order to be effective for ADHD thinking and processing.

I’m also reminded that in the recent past, many parents believed (and some still do) that ABA was the best way to support their autistic children. Many autistic adults, who experienced this in their childhood, now regard it as a kind of abuse. What if, in our desire to help ADHD children ‘blend in ‘ at school we unintentionally do them harm in the same way?

The Value of ADHD Brains

ADHD brains are often highly creative, empathetic, and able to think outside the box. White & Shah’s paper shows that people with ADHD often excel in creative problem-solving. Not only that - how do we know that we are able to exclude everyone who has/may have ADHD when deciding what the ‘Neuro-Standard’ brain looks like?

Why We Already Know What to Do

1. Acceptance: Embracing neurodiversity enriches society and fosters innovation6.

2. Support: Tailored educational and workplace strategies can help individuals with ADHD thrive7.

3. Community: Building supportive communities can mitigate many challenges faced by those with ADHD, as discussed by Antshel & Barkley.

Instead..

rather than seeking to "fix" ADHD, perhaps we should focus on creating a society that values and supports neurodiversity - of all kinds, even those without any kind of recognised neurodivergence.

Would you support the idea of a ‘cure’ - or wouldn’t it be easier (and so much more POWERFUL) to cure society and people’s ignorance?

I have really enjoyed creating these daily blogs for ADHD Awareness Month - but I’m delighted to be going back to weekly blogging from now on. If you’ve got a second, why not let me know which one you enjoyed most?

If you’re looking for tailored 1:1 coaching or a group coaching that offers a deep dive into these strategies, providing expert guidance and a supportive community for ADHD families, please check my ‘coaching’ page at the top or send me an email.

Want to learn more?

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Together, let's uncover the secrets to living a fulfilling life with ADHD.

Warmly,

Katherine

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Further Reading

Singh, I. (2009). Beyond polemics: Science and ethics of ADHD. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10(1), 2-3.

Faraone, S. V., & Buitelaar, J. (2010). Comparing the efficacy of stimulants for ADHD in children and adolescents using meta-analysis. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 19(4), 353-364.

Ormond, K. E., Mortlock, D. P., Scholes, D. T., Bombard, Y., Brody, L. C., Faucett, W. A., ... & Peay, H. L. (2017). Human Germline Genome Editing. American Journal of Human Genetics, 101(2), 167-176.

Safren, S. A., Otto, M. W., Sprich, S., Winett, C. L., Wilens, T. E., & Biederman, J. (2005). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for ADHD in medication-treated adults with continued symptoms. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 43(7), 831-842.

White, H. A., & Shah, P. (2011). Creative style and achievement in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Personality and Individual Differences, 50(5), 673-677.

Grandin, T., & Panek, R. (2013). The autistic brain: Thinking across the spectrum. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

DuPaul, G. J., Weyandt, L. L., & Janusis, G. M. (2011). ADHD in the classroom: Effective intervention strategies. Theory Into Practice, 50(1), 35-42.

Antshel, K. M., & Barkley, R. (2018). Psychosocial interventions in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Update. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics, 27(1), 11-26.