The Hidden 20%

ADHD Media Narratives & Misinformation: What's Really Happening?

Mar 18, 2026
Dr Tony Lloyd, former CEO of the ADHD Foundation and long-time neurodiversity advocate, reflects on decades of ADHD and autism policy work. He discusses why neurodiversity is rising, tensions between medical models and thinking differently, broken SEND systems and long waitlists, and how cultural change and visibility are reshaping stigma and opportunity.
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INSIGHT

Neurotypes Shouldn't Be Framed As Illnesses

  • Tony rejects medicalising neurotypes as illnesses to be cured; he sees ADHD, autism, dyslexia as innate traits.
  • He contrasts degenerative illnesses like Alzheimer's as medical conditions versus developmental neurotypes.
ADVICE

Remove Deficit Language Like 'Disorder' From ADHD

  • Stop using deficit language and rethink diagnostic labels when possible.
  • Tony specifically says the 'disorder' in ADHD should go and reframes ADHD as attention surplus and hypersensitivity.
INSIGHT

ADHD Is Mostly Underdiagnosed Not Overdiagnosed

  • ADHD is underdiagnosed, not overdiagnosed, in the UK despite media claims.
  • Tony cites ~2.5 million UK people with ADHD but only ~250k diagnosed and treated, while antidepressant use is far higher.
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