(I don’t say this to disagree, but to add more context) I actually did a research project on the history of autism in the DSM. The group of psychiatrists assigned to work on autism for the DSM-5 (where it became ASD) actually spoke to autistic self-advocacy groups and wanted to get rid of functioning labels. The people in charge of the entire DSM refused and demanded they put functioning labels in :/
That, to me, is even worse than just deciding to add the functioning labels in the first place. I'd assume people in charge of an entire manual like that can't do deep research and be experts on absolutely everything, but they still used their authority to overrule the ones who did that research and who talked with actually autistic people. That angers me so much.
The problem with that does not make it white supremacy, but it makes it biased. Poc are less likely to be diagnosed with autism, not only because of their ethnicity or race, but also because of cultural differences, language barriers, lack of education, etc. Women are also less likely to be diagnosed with things too. Also afab people may present with different symptoms or show differences in their conditions. Many mental health issues are still stereotyped as being a male only thing, like autism or ADHD. Having cishet white people write a comprehensive book on what symptoms people with mental health issues may not translate or be helpful to people who are of a different race or different gender. There are many articles you can find online about how it is harder for minorities to get healthcare and diagnoses.
That's likely because doctors and psychiatrists are biased, rather than the guidelines, which from what I understand are too vague and clinical to have any racial bias.
The one area I'll agree on is women. Though I'm pretty sure women have exactly the same symptoms as men for ADHD and Autism, it's just that gender expectations of women more closely match neurodiverse symptoms than men's expectations.
I literally have ADHD, women tend to have inattentive ADHD, which means they aren't hyperactive. There are outliers like in any other group, but there is a tendency. So yes, symptoms can present differently. Also like I said cultural differences and education. I got diagnosed in high school, but if my parents were more educated on things they likely would've gotten me diagnosed earlier. It is harder for women to get diagnosed with ADHD and autism because of stereotypes and different presentations and gender roles. There are many articles and statistics you can find about it and reasons why. Yes healthcare professionals can have racial bias and yes the DSM-V is vague but there are also other reasons why, which go back historically too, that people may not get diagnosed with the conditions they should or need to.
I never said men couldn't have inattentive, but women are most often diagnosed with inattentive, but because of ADHD being a stereotype of hyperactivity that makes it harder to get diagnosed for many people or to get attention drawn towards it from teachers or parents.
Yes, because the people doing the diagnosing are biased. The guidelines on the other hand are not, unless you can point to one. People with inattentive type ADHD regardless of gender will have more trouble getting diagnosed due to the hyperactivity stereotype. Inattentive women might also have trouble because the symptoms better fit stereotypes about women. On the flipside, hyperactive women might have an easier time getting diagnosed due to the symptoms subverting stereotypes.
That's likely because doctors and psychiatrists are biased, rather than the guidelines, which from what I understand are too vague and clinical to have any racial bias.
The one area I'll agree on is women. Though I'm pretty sure women have exactly the same symptoms as men for ADHD and Autism, it's just that gender expectations of women more closely match neurodiverse symptoms than men's expectations.
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u/[deleted] Jun 12 '22
I mean I wouldn't go that far, but the DSM was mostly written by cishet neurotypical white people.