[iLoveOncall]

> Real ADHD, not some self-diagnosed or casual self-deprecation.

How would you know?

This number is totally unrealistic when the prevalence in the adult population is 2-4%.

Unless you work with 3 people, one of which has ADHD.

[spacephysics]

While I agree questioning how he would know, we can’t use the general population metric and apply it to a specific population, in this case, software engineers who work at MAANG, or just competent enough to pass the interview

I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a larger percent population of ADHD in MAANG tech vs in the general population.

But to try and counter myself, there’s typically a larger population of ADHD (or it’s permutations) in trade jobs (though I argue programming is a trade skill, just a new breed in our digital age. Though I digress)

[nibbleshifter]

I recently read a study that suggested around 30% of incarcerated individuals in the UK probably had ADHD or similar.

Just for another fun data point.

[nxpnsv]

NBA players work in teams 100% great at shooting hoops, still the prevalence of that in the adult US population is tiny... what I am saying is that perhaps there is some selection effect happening here :)

[iLoveOncall]

NBA players are hired for their ability to shoot hoops. Software engineers are not hired for having ADHD.

[nxpnsv]

True, but not all selection biases are intentional

[galangalalgol]

The current estimate is more like 10%. Some of that may be over diagnosis, but some of it always was, kids have energy, that makes adults tired. But the degree of increase far exceeds any such explanation. The podcasts I've heard lately seem to indicate links to all the normal suspects, gut biome, autoimmune, and some chemical we may now be exposed to. Probably some combination.

Also, there are some jobs someone with ADHD will have a lot of trouble keeping. Jobs that benefit from hyperfocus are not among them. Many therapists will suggest careers like engineering, tech or writer (perhaps technical) for precisely that reason. So you would expect highly elevated rates of ADHD in those fields.

[andybak]

"Laughable" seems a little strong (as well as slightly rude).

I certainly think it's plausible that there's certain sectors that see a prevalence well in excess of the general population. And there's enough variance between companies that some will be even higher.

30% does sound rather high but "laughable" implies the person you are replying to has stated something so far beyond that that mockery is the only appropriate response.

[iLoveOncall]

I already changed to "totally unrealistic" before you commented, but yes, I believe that 30% when the prevalence is at 5% for high estimates is so far beyond reality that it can be laughed at.

[throwaway4aday]

By that measure it's totally unrealistic that the average height of NBA players is 6'6"

[dwaltrip]

I don’t think this is the greatest counter example, as there are far fewer NBA players than big-tech engineers.

Small groups can differ significantly from the population average more easily than large groups.

[iLoveOncall]

No, because being tall is a prime factor when hiring NBA players, but having ADHD is not when hiring software engineers.

[loudgas]

Being tall gives you an obvious advantage at basketball. As a result many tall people are drawn to pursuing a career in basketball. Could it be that ADHD gives you an advantage at the kind of tasks involved in software engineering, and that many people with ADHD are naturally drawn to this kind of work, even though the advantage is not so obvious as a physical characteristic like height?

[pcthrowaway]

Perhaps ADHD people are more susceptible to the attention-hijacking effects of computers and software.

So they decide they should go on to work with software since it keeps distracting them from everything else.

Ironic that they end up building even more psychologically exploitative software that hijacks our attention

[nibbleshifter]

The traits often looked for in software engineers when hiring can often bear a striking similarity to the traits an ADHD or autistic person may display.

[nibbleshifter]

Tech work has a lot of weird selection biases that can lead to high concentrations of certain minority groups working in the sector: eg, people with autism, ADHD, etc.

[bayesian_horse]

OP may have sampled by asking. Or watched typical symptoms. Or seen medication.

I myself do suspect people of having the condition without being a hundred percent certain they have it or know it themselves.