01/04/2025
Let’s get one thing straight- I’m a fan of dark humour and firmly believe no topic should be off-limits in comedy. When handled well, humour can be a powerful tool for facilitating conversation on uncomfortable but important topics.
So go ahead- joke about ADHD, and about Hi**er if you want. I’m a Jewish ADHD coach & I have no objection to jokes on either topic. The issue is never WHAT you’re joking about but HOW and WHY.
In recent times, ADHD diagnoses have skyrocketed, including many celebrities who’ve been diagnosed as adults. Naturally, this raises questions for some, such as:
Why is ADHD so much more common now than when we were kids?
Isn’t it just an excuse for bad behaviour?
Asking questions is fine, but some people appear to be uninterested in the answers, choosing to jump to their own conclusions instead.
Growing up in the UK in the 80s, ADHD was not heard of, let alone understood. My diagnosis at age 30, finally explained some struggles I’d carried with me my whole life, which had always been put down to my own personal failures and flaws.
The recent improvements in understanding of ADHD, mean more people are having their ADHD detected, diagnosed & treated, and at an earlier age. So yes, diagnoses are up & that’s a good thing.
ADHD is never to be used as an excuse and I’ve never treated it so. But it does offer a valid explanation for some of the challenges we face. Advocating for more support and understanding isn’t about dodging responsibility- it’s about increasing fairness and inclusivity.
ADHD is still highly stigmatised. Cartoons that spread misinformation about ADHD being used as an excuse (and imply it isn’t even real) only make it even harder for people to speak up and access the help they need. And when a joke causes harm to people, it stops being funny- to me at least.
So to The Spectator, I have one question- Was there really no way to make your (uninformed) point about ADHD without linking us with history’s worst ever human?
Well anyway, the joke’s on you. If you actually knew anything about people with ADHD and our struggles with organisation & efficiency, you’d know there’s no way Hi**er could possibly have been one of us 😉
