Why is ADHD is so hard to define & diagnose? This episode breaks down the science, the bias, and the media noise surrounding ADHD and neurodivergence.

This week on The Neurodivergent Report, we brought an Epidemiologist to teach us how to measure stuff like ADHD/ASD, what current research narratives gets wrong (and right), and why neurodivergent communities need better representation.

Curious what’s inside:

• Epidemiology 101 (abridged)

• Social Research 101 (abridged)

• Media as a socialization tool

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• Let us know your thoughts @ndreportpod on the socials.

  However you’re able to engage, thank you for being here!

  With love, Sarah 💜

  Looking for Fred?

  (https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederick-hooven-phd-8637bb13/)

  
  

  📢 Connect with Us

  Follow 👉 @ndreportpod

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  📚 Suggested Reading for more on topic:

  Aftab, A. (2025, April 28). People are still stumbling from one misguided narrative… (ADHD Edition). Psychiatry at the Margins. https://www.psychiatrymargins.com/p/people-are-still-stumbling-from-one

  Barkley, R. A. (2025, April). Response to NYT Magazine’s “Have We Been Thinking About A.D.H.D. All Wrong?” [Multimedia commentary]. In Dr. Barkley Debunks Myths About ADHD. https://thembatutors.com/russell-barkley-adhd-response-controversy/

  Danielson, M. L., Claussen, A. H., Bitsko, R. H., et al. (2024). ADHD prevalence among U.S. children and adolescents in 2022. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2024.2335625

  CDC. (2024, November 19). Data and statistics on ADHD. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/data/index.html

  Chronis‑Tuscano, A., & Bounoua, N. (2024). ADHD prevalence rose, yet disparities remain: Commentary on the 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2024.2359075

  McLamb, F., Bozinovic, K., Olander, N., et al. (2021). U.S. national, regional, and state‑specific socioeconomic factors correlate with child and adolescent ADHD diagnoses pre‑COVID‑19 pandemic. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-01233-2

  
  

  
  

  Keywords:#ADHD, #neurodivergence, #epidemiology, #qualitativeresearch, #quantitativeresearch, #resourceallocation, #mediainfluence, #mentalhealth, #neurodivergent #ndreportpod, #parenting, #authenticity, #copingstrategies, #anxiety, #diagnosis, #DSM-5, #community, #contentcreation #podcast #researchpodcast

  
  

This week on The Neurodivergent Report, Shaun Arora shares his story of late-diagnosis and what it means to grow up neurodivergent without the language or support to name it.

Together, Sarah and Shaun unpack how cultural identity and family dynamics shaped his journey… like relying on his sister as a translator in childhood, or repeating grades in a school system that didn’t understand his learning style.

Curious what’s inside:

• How our workplaces and schools can do better at making room for all brains

• Quoting sociological theory on why “neurotypical” might be a myth

• Why transdiagnostic approach is the future of diagnosis

If you want an inside look into neurodivergent brains and thought processes, this episode is for you! We're👏modeling 👏TODAY 👏

Let us know your thoughts @ndreportpod on the socials.

However you’re able to engage, thank you for being here!

With love, Sarah 💜

📚 Resources Mentioned:

Shaun's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaunarora/

📢 Connect with Us

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In Episode 17 of The Neurodivergent Report, we unpack why so many neurodivergent individuals go undiagnosed… or misdiagnosed… for years.

From internalized ADHD symptoms to the overlooked role of hormones in women, this episode explores how diagnosis and treatment are shaped by race, gender, parenting styles, and systemic bias.

Curious what’s inside:

• Parents perception and ADHD diagnosis

• Why women and BIPOC are underdiagnosed and labeled hysterical

• Connection between hormones and mental health symptoms

• What the research isn’t telling us yet and why that's a problem

Whether you're navigating your own diagnosis or supporting someone who is, this episode offers community and a compassionate sociological lens.

However you’re able to engage, thank you for being here!

With love, Sarah 💜

📚 Resources:

(2025) ADHD and Sex Hormones in Females: https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547251332319

(2013) Racial and Ethnic Disparities in ADHD Diagnosis: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2012-2390

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In this episode of The Neurodivergent Report, hosts Sarah Russell and JQ Walker sit down with ADHD coach and occupational therapist Jamie Cutino to unpack the complex intersections of neurodivergence, socioeconomic background, identity, and emotional regulation.

🎙️ Curious what’s inside:

– Why hustle culture is toxic for neurodivergent people

– Imposter syndrome in marginalized communities

– Navigating college, class disparities, and capitalism

– Why nervous system regulation is more than just “self-care”

If you’ve ever felt like your self-worth was tied to productivity or struggled to find community as a neurodivergent adult... we are here for you.

However you’re able to engage, thank you for being here!

With love,

Sarah 💜

🎧 Listen now + don’t forget to check out Jamie’s podcast: Outsmart ADHD⁠ https://outsmartadhd.transistor.fm/⁠

📌 Find Jamie here:⁠ LinkedIn | Facebook

📢 Connect with Us:

Follow 👉 @ndreportpod

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Trigger Warning: This episode includes mentions of suicidal ideation and descriptions of mental health episodes.

Curious about the intersection of poetry, psychiatry, and neurodivergence?

This week on The Neurodivergent Report, award-winning poet and mental health technician Seif-Eldeine Och shares his deeply personal story.

From the early days of an ADD diagnosis to navigating bipolar disorder and substance use, Seif explores how culture, community, and creativity have shaped his healing.

💡 Curious what's inside:

• The potential evolutionary benefits of neurodiversity

• A raw and vulnerable look at mental health struggles—even with class privilege

• How community, co-regulation, and meaning-making support recovery

• Exploring TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) as a new treatment

• Reflections on psychiatry, social justice, and the collapse of communal meaning

From evolutionary psychology to social justice and the collapse of communal meaning, this episode connects the deeply personal with the widely political. Whether you’re looking for insight, solidarity, or inspiration, you’ll find it here.

However you’re able to engage, thank you for being here!

With love, Sarah 💜

📚 Resources Mentioned:

Seif’s LinkedIn

Seif on Facebook

📧 Contact: seifeldeine@gmail.com

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Understanding Neurodivergence, Diagnosis & Identity

What even is a diagnosis, and who gets to decide?

In this Research Segment of The Neurodivergent Report, we unpack the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), explore how symptoms show up differently for different people, and highlight why identity, culture, and community matter so deeply in this conversation.

Curious what's inside?

• 📚 Brief history and evolution of the DSM

  💥 Outline of the categories and symptoms it includes

  🤓 Dive into the intersection of mental health and identity politics (literally my favorite part!)

• Whether you're a clinician, a neurodivergent adult, or someone navigating your own mental health journey, this episode offers perspective, compassion, and context.

  However you're able to engage, thank you for being here!
  With love, Sarah 💜

  📚 Resources Mentioned:

  • APA: DSM-5 Table of Contents (PDF)

  • Open Access Research Article on DSM

  • CHADD, NAMI, Embrace-Autism, some of my favs

  
  

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Feeling off but not sure why?

It’s not too early (or too late) to talk about the full-body impact of perimenopause.

This week on The Neurodivergent Report, I was SO excited to speak with Dr. Daemon Jones, a licensed Naturopathic Doctor, all about how hormonal shifts—especially during perimenopause—affect more than just our cycles.

💡 Inside this episode:

• Basic hormone literacy

• What perimenopause actually means (and why it’s often misunderstood)

• How we can support ourselves—and each other—through big life transitions like this one

If you’ve ever found yourself crying in frustration, buried under medical symptoms that just don’t add up, this conversation is for you.

However you're able to engage, thank you for being here.

With love, Sarah 💜

🔗 Resources

https://www.healthydaes.com/

Peri/Menopause Score card https://hd.livehealthseminar.com/menopausesymptomscorecard

@healthydaes - IG

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Follow 👉 @ndreportpod

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