To evaluate ADHD information online, clinical psychologist Dr. Monica Johnson, also known as Dr. J, suggests asking whether the experience described is specific to ADHD, whether the content points toward assessment or useful resources, and whether the speaker’s certainty matches the science. She also emphasizes checking claims even when the person sharing them has credentials.
I spoke with Dr. J, about ADHD misinformation, the appeal of relatable content, and where to start if something online has you considering an assessment. She hosts “ADHD And…” on The ADHD Channel for Women from Understood.org.
My journey toward a formal diagnosis of ADHD and autism began with watching other people talk about their lived experiences on social media.
Those feelings of recognition can be powerful. But when a video moves from describing one person’s experience to explaining ADHD more broadly, how do we know whether the information is correct?
What is the relatability trap?
Dr. J describes the relatability trap as what happens when recognition starts doing the work evidence is supposed to do.
You watch a video and think, “Oh my God, that’s me.” As she explains, that internal reaction can then be read as evidence that the explanation is accurate.
She also points out that misleading content can be easy to understand. In the research she discusses, misleading videos could be clear, satisfying, and punchy while falling short on accuracy and actionability.
Her distinction is between how a claim feels and whether it is accurate.
How should we distinguish lived experience from expertise?
Dr. J suggests putting different kinds of information into different “bins.”
Someone sharing a personal experience may offer a connection you value. Someone with relevant training and expertise offers another kind of information. You can appreciate both while recognizing what each person is providing.
She emphasizes that both should be fact-checked. Her point is to consider the information itself rather than treating accuracy as a judgment about whether the speaker is a good or bad person.
Questions to ask about ADHD information online
Is the experience specific to ADHD?
Dr. J asks:
“So does this describe something actually characteristic of ADHD or does it just describe a tired human being?”
She gives anxiety, irritability, mood swings, and relationship conflict as examples of experiences that can occur across different conditions and in everyday life.
A viewer may recognize an experience without the video establishing that it is specific to ADHD. Later in the conversation, she discusses “symptom inflation,” in which experiences are presented too broadly as signs of ADHD.
Does the information point toward further help?
Dr. J asks whether content points viewers toward professional assessment and resources they can use in everyday life.
She contrasts that with content that treats an explanation as settled:
“Good information opens a door. Misinformation makes everything a closed and shut case. And that’s fundamentally not how science works.”
Does the certainty match the science?
Dr. J cautions against presenting developing ADHD research as a fixed explanation.
She uses research on dopamine and ADHD as an example of an area where understanding continues to develop. Her concern is with explanations delivered with complete confidence when the research is still moving.
As she explains, new research can change what we understand.
Are you checking the claim as well as the credentials?
Credentials help, Dr. J says, but they are not a “force field.”
She includes herself in that standard:
“So I would say check me too. And I really mean that.”
She acknowledges that professionals can misspeak, misremember a detail, or muddle information in conversation. Some misinformation may be intentional; mistakes can also happen.
How can trust in a creator affect our judgment?
I asked Dr. J about the emotional connections people form with creators and why challenging inaccurate information can become difficult.
She acknowledges the value of the connections people found online during lockdown. People were isolated and had less social contact. The importance of that connection does not need to be minimized.
She also distinguishes being someone’s fan from being their friend. A creator’s relationship with an audience is one-way, even when their language feels personal.
When a claim is inaccurate, Dr. J frames correction as a matter of repairing the information. She encourages viewers to consider a creator’s response when concerns are raised, including whether they correct the information or double down, turn off comments, or remove people from their page.
Who can relatable ADHD content leave out?
Dr. J discusses how a familiar picture of ADHD can exclude people whose experiences do not fit it.
She points to the stereotype of the hyperactive young man and how that picture misses women. She also raises concerns about the visibility of Black and brown creators and how BIPOC and queer individuals can be missed.
Her point is that relatability can help some people feel seen while reinforcing a narrow picture of who has ADHD.
What about treatments, supplements, and ADHD hacks?
Dr. J identifies treatment claims as another area to examine carefully. She discusses incorrect treatments and oversold interventions, supplements, and hacks.
She also raises commercial incentives. Her example is a person whose offering is a supplement and whose content repeatedly promotes supplements while ignoring other options.
During the interview, I raised concerns about AI tools marketed with promises to solve or “fix” ADHD. Dr. J questioned what “fix” means in that context.
Where can you start if you are considering an ADHD assessment?
Dr. J begins with a practical question: What care do you have access to?
If you have access to a primary care provider, she suggests starting there and explaining what is happening. If you already work with a therapist or psychiatrist, they may be a starting point for guidance.
When looking for a clinician, she recommends relevant experience with the conditions you want help with. She also recognizes that income, location, and availability affect the options people have.
She explains that a clinician does not necessarily have to work exclusively with ADHD to provide competent care. Her emphasis is on starting with accessible care and recognizing the limits of general online information.
Watch or listen to the full conversation
The episode covers research on ADHD and autism misinformation, the relatability trap, trust in creators, and questions to consider when seeking an assessment.
Find Dr. J’s podcast, ADHD And…, on The ADHD Channel for Women from Understood.org.
I’m Brett, the AuDHD Boss. My channel explores ADHD, AuDHD, and autism in the workplace. For workplace coaching and neuroinclusive workplace or management programs, visit AuDHDBoss.com.