Danielle Elliott

I think the anxiety around all of this, the way the appointment feels, is a reason a lot of women never seek a diagnosis. Unfortunately, in Parker's case, that anxiety was well-placed, considering what happened when she tried to tell the doctor about her ADHD.

I think the anxiety around all of this, the way the appointment feels, is a reason a lot of women never seek a diagnosis. Unfortunately, in Parker's case, that anxiety was well-placed, considering what happened when she tried to tell the doctor about her ADHD.

It's just, like, I freeze, and I can't do anything. Parker went into the call hoping to get help with her ADHD. Instead, in less than 30 minutes, he'd suggested she was bipolar. I've heard many women report a misdiagnosis of anxiety or depression. Being misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder seems like another level.

It's just, like, I freeze, and I can't do anything. Parker went into the call hoping to get help with her ADHD. Instead, in less than 30 minutes, he'd suggested she was bipolar. I've heard many women report a misdiagnosis of anxiety or depression. Being misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder seems like another level.

Parker steered the conversation back to ADHD, and the doctor prescribed her the appropriate medication. Here's where it gets weird. The next time she looked at TikTok, it was as if the app had updated the dossier it was keeping on her.

Parker steered the conversation back to ADHD, and the doctor prescribed her the appropriate medication. Here's where it gets weird. The next time she looked at TikTok, it was as if the app had updated the dossier it was keeping on her.

We like to talk about the algorithm, like it's some omniscient, even clairvoyant supermind. Probably because none of us know how it works. But it's not. It's more like some complex combination of statistics, probability, and soylent-fueled software engineering. The important point here is that it worked.

We like to talk about the algorithm, like it's some omniscient, even clairvoyant supermind. Probably because none of us know how it works. But it's not. It's more like some complex combination of statistics, probability, and soylent-fueled software engineering. The important point here is that it worked.

The algorithm started directing Parker to more and more accounts by Black women, specific and useful accounts like ADHD While Black, which she now follows. I didn't get these recommendations. The algorithm seems to know I'm white. But in 2022, Parker's feed spoke directly to her experience. These accounts offered helpful ways to manage her ADHD and encouragement.

The algorithm started directing Parker to more and more accounts by Black women, specific and useful accounts like ADHD While Black, which she now follows. I didn't get these recommendations. The algorithm seems to know I'm white. But in 2022, Parker's feed spoke directly to her experience. These accounts offered helpful ways to manage her ADHD and encouragement.

She said that in one post, a woman cited a statistic about other Black women with ADHD.

She said that in one post, a woman cited a statistic about other Black women with ADHD.

In these posts, she heard women describing why young Black girls are rarely diagnosed with ADHD. Or at least they were rarely diagnosed. Data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that the largest increase in diagnosis from 2000 to 2010 happened among Black girls. But that statistic is tricky.

In these posts, she heard women describing why young Black girls are rarely diagnosed with ADHD. Or at least they were rarely diagnosed. Data published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that the largest increase in diagnosis from 2000 to 2010 happened among Black girls. But that statistic is tricky.

It might have been the biggest increase because they were the most overlooked group of kids, and there was some catch-up happening. It doesn't mean there was enough diagnosis, and many young Black girls are still undiagnosed.

It might have been the biggest increase because they were the most overlooked group of kids, and there was some catch-up happening. It doesn't mean there was enough diagnosis, and many young Black girls are still undiagnosed.

Another study, conducted by the Mayo Clinic and released in 2021, concluded that Asian, Black, and Hispanic children are significantly less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD compared with white children, and that many Black and Hispanic children go undiagnosed because of the ways their behavior is misinterpreted. This may be changing. The CDC releases data on ADHD diagnosis among kids every year.

Another study, conducted by the Mayo Clinic and released in 2021, concluded that Asian, Black, and Hispanic children are significantly less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD compared with white children, and that many Black and Hispanic children go undiagnosed because of the ways their behavior is misinterpreted. This may be changing. The CDC releases data on ADHD diagnosis among kids every year.

The latest numbers show that 12% of Black and white children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with ADHD, compared to 10% of Native American and Hispanic kids, 6% of Pacific Islander kids, and 4% of Asian American kids. These numbers indicate more equity in diagnosis, and that's good news for kids. It doesn't mean much for adults, like Parker.

The latest numbers show that 12% of Black and white children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with ADHD, compared to 10% of Native American and Hispanic kids, 6% of Pacific Islander kids, and 4% of Asian American kids. These numbers indicate more equity in diagnosis, and that's good news for kids. It doesn't mean much for adults, like Parker.