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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]A neurodevelopmental disorder has to actually clinically impact you. So if you’ve been [b]reasonably successful[/b] at school and work, that’s not “masking” - that means you just have normal human struggles. Adult ADHD certainly exists but it’s not “masked.” You see it in people who are always on the edge of getting fired, maybe flunked out of college one or more times, cannot run their personal lives at all. [/quote]

This is a complete misunderstanding of both masking and adult ADHD.  In schools, 504 and IEP plans can't be denied solely because a student is "at grade level" (reasonably successful).  This is also the reason the Dept. of Ed had to issue a letter reminding schools that they can't require students to give up special education/aids and services to participate in gifted/accelerated programs. (https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-20071226.html)

Masking is any concealing of one's true personality or feelings - when the face you present to the outside doesn't match how you feel/think on the inside. Yes, *everybody* does it.  But people with ADHD (and autistic and other ND people) mask far more often, to a far greater extent, and the mental health impact of this level of masking is severe and cumulative.

People with ADHD can reach greater success and accomplish far more when given appropriate support and accommodation - whether they are currently functioning below expectations or are managing to be "reasonably successful" - perhaps they *could* be wildly successful?  You've got the smarts for a PhD but never finished (or started) a Masters because you couldn't manage the workload.  I'd call that a clinical impact.  Many adults with undiagnosed/untreated ADHD chug along doing fine until something tips their very carefully managed balance - a new baby, a promotion or job change, a pandemic, anything requiring them to take on increasing levels of work - and they crash.[/quote]

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