509. “That” NYT Article on ADHD: Challenging Our Beliefs

Would you rather read the transcript? Click here. In this episode, I dig into the widely discussed New York Times Magazine article, “Have We Been Thinking About ADHD All Wrong?”—and more specifically, I zoom in on one particularly compelling component: the fluctuating nature of ADHD symptoms over time. This idea—that ADHD is not a fixed trait but something that ebbs and flows with age and environment—is grounded in research from the MTA study and recent work by Dr. Margaret Sibley. I explore how her findings challenge our assumptions about stability, diagnosis, and treatment, and I share practical takeaways for clinicians, especially those of us doing ADHD evaluations. If you’ve ever struggled to reconcile inconsistent ADHD data across settings or over time, this episode is for you. We talk about environmental demand, age-related changes, what “remission” actually means, and why our clinical models need to be more flexible. I also provide concrete recommendations for clinical psychologists to rethink assessment, feedback, and follow-up care based on this evolving understanding of ADHD. Cool Things Mentioned * The Testing Psychologist mastermind groups and business consulting * New York Times Magazine Article: “Have We Been Thinking About ADHD All Wrong?” * Sibley, M. H., et al. (2022). Longitudinal course of ADHD symptoms: Evidence from the MTA study. * PubMed Abstract * Previous Testing Psychologist podcast episode with Dr. Margaret Sibley on adult ADHD * Solanto, M. V. (2011). Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adult ADHD: Targeting Executive Dysfunction. Book on Amazon * STAND Program for Teens with ADHD (Developed by Margaret Sibley). Overview from University of Washington Featured Resources I am honored to partner with two AMAZING companies to help improve your testing practice! PAR is a long time supporter of the Testing Psychologist podcast, and I will continue to bring you featured items from their catalog! Listen to each episode for specific product recommendations and links. Learn more at www.parinc.com. TherapyNotes is the leading EHR system for mental health practitioners. I’ve used TherapyNotes for over 10 years, and it just keeps getting better. Use this link and the promo code “testing” to get two free months and try it for yourself! www.therapynotes.com/testing The Testing Psychologist podcast is approved for CEU’s! I’ve partnered with At Health to offer CE credits for podcast episodes! Visit this link to access current and past episodes available for CE credit. You can use code “TTP10” for a discount on ALL the course credits you pur...