Singer Grimes is looking back at her childhood following a recent alleged diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The 37-year-old Canadian musician in a Friday X post responded to an ADHD meme account with some reflections about the impact of allegedly being diagnosed with ADHD and autism spectrum disorder as an adult.
“Got diagnosed (with) adhd/ autism this year and realized I’m (probably) dyslexic which is why I can’t spell at all without spellcheck,” she wrote.
“I feel like, had we known this when I was a child, I would have worked so much less hard, been on drugs, and so many of the weird obsessions and motivations I had would have been seen as pathological,” she added. “And I could have written off certain things that were very hard for me, but I’m glad I over came them.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend medication as the first step in treatment for children younger than 6.
In response to the meme account’s post pathologizing “excessive reading,” Grimes wrote: “My adhd symptoms were infinitely worse when I wasn’t an avid reader.” She also warned people against “self-diagnosing” developmental disorders such as ADHD and criticized misinformation spread by “uninformed social media mental health subculture.”
In response to media coverage of her alleged diagnoses, the “Genesis” singer clarified on Monday that she’d previously mentioned an autism diagnosis she’d received “well over a year ago” in an August 2023 X post.
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health says ADHD is generally marked by symptoms such as difficulty paying attention, disorganization, trouble with self-control or excessive activity and restlessness. As ADHD patients get older, “inattentive symptoms often persist” while “hyperactivity and impulsivity are more likely to decline.”
The NIMH adds that “ADHD symptoms among girls and women are especially likely to have been missed in childhood.” The institute recommends speaking with a primary care physician about any concerning symptoms.
Common treatments include stimulant medications and behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy.
The NIMH also notes that adult patients “must have shown symptoms much earlier, starting before age 12,” and also “show five (instead of six) symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity and impulsivity” for a diagnosis.
Grimes also took to social media to criticize ex Elon Musk
The singer recently took to her former partner Elon Musk’s X platform to urge him to protect their kids’ privacy.
Grimes shares three children — 4-year-old X Æ A-Xii, 3-year-old Exa Dark Sideræl (aka Y) and 2-year-old Techno Mechanicus — with the Tesla and SpaceX businessman, who is also an advisor to President Donald Trump and apparent head of the Department of Government Efficiency.
Last month, she expressed her disdain for son X’s public visibility after he accompanied Musk to the White House during a visit with Trump. In a follow-up post, she wrote, “I unfortunately do not control the internet and cannot wipe this from the internet. I have tried begging the public and my kids’ dad to keep them offline, and I’ve tried legal recourse.”
Grimes told Time magazine: “I would really like people to stop posting images of my kid everywhere. I think fame is something you should consent to. Obviously, things will just be what they are. But I would really, really appreciate that.”
Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY
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