Episode 2.05: ADD/ADHD is a Desi Public Health Issue

What is ADD/ADHD? What does it look like to the Desi immigrant community, and how do Desis treat it? In this episode I take a historical look into how Desis have come to understand (or misunderstand) ADD. I explore different philosophies for treatment between socioeconomic classes in the Desi community, and environmental factors that can lead to the development or worsening of symptoms of ADD. Finally, I talk about my personal experience with ADD: my 8-year journey exploring my diagnosis, coping, and treatment. To read additional material on this topic visit tdcpodcast.com.

Listen here.

Sources/Further Reading:

• ADD in India

  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5903618/#__sec4title

  • https://theswaddle.com/adhd-in-india-complex-condition/

• Lead Exposure

  • https://www.additudemag.com/link-between-lead-exposure-and-adhd-confirmed/#targetText=The%20causal%20link%20between%20lead,the%20once%2Dabundant%20environmental%20toxin.&targetText=In%20those%20subjects%20with%20the,of%20ADHD%20symptoms%2C%20particularly%20hyperactivity.

  • https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/special-reports/understanding-link-between-lead-toxicity-and-adhd

  • https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20190123/childhood-lead-exposure-raies-mental-rises-later#1

• Gender disparity in ADHD diagnosis and expression of symptoms

  • https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/adhd-symptoms-in-girls-and-boys#ADHD-and-Gender-

  • https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-244X-13-298