ADHD, AuDHD, and self-diagnosis: Is it valid? | Sorry, I Missed This

ADHD, AuDHD, and self-diagnosis: Is it valid? | Sorry, I Missed This

From The ADHD Channel for Women by Understood.org

May 21, 2026 · 21 min · Episode 168

About this episode

The episode discusses the validity of ADHD self-diagnosis and the challenges surrounding access to formal diagnosis.

Is ADHD self-diagnosis valid? According to clinical psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Kilmer, that’s the wrong question entirely. When access to diagnosis is limited by cost, insurance, stigma, and identity — and when the people who self-diagnose show higher rates of negative self-image and internalized stigma — the real conversation isn’t about validity. It’s about how we make sure people have access to good information. Cate and Dr. Kilmer dig into what really happens when people research their own neurodivergence. They discuss research analyzing 452,000 Reddit posts that found self-diagnosed individuals seek more social validation. But they benefit less from it. They cover what actually happens in a clinical ADHD assessment and how comorbidities like anxiety, depression, and OCD complicate the picture. And they discuss why the question “Is self-diagnosis valid?” misses the point when getting a formal diagnosis is a privilege that many can’t access.

People in this episode

Host: Cate

Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Kilmer

Topics covered

  • ADHD
  • self-diagnosis
  • neurodivergence
  • mental health
  • access to diagnosis

Keywords

  • ADHD
  • self-diagnosis
  • neurodivergence
  • mental health
  • clinical assessment
  • comorbidities
  • stigma

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Understood.org

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