I built an ADHD app with interactive coping tools, noise mixer and self-test

I both agree and disagree with you. I think neurodivergence has become a bit "trendy" lately, and some people have latched onto these labels when they may not be clinically appropriate. However, these evidence-based diagnostic tools aren't perfect.

My sister was properly diagnosed with ADHD several years ago, and she encouraged me to get tested. My tester, a PhD psychologist who specialized in neuropsych testing, said the evidence was borderline, but ultimately refused to give a diagnosis because I did well in high school and that's unheard of in "true" ADHD. I promise I'm not exaggerating--I have the report to prove it. He completely ignored that I never had to pay attention in school because it was so easy for me, and I only started to run into problems in college when the material got more difficult.

Thankfully my psychiatrist disagreed with that and started me on medication anyway, and since then I've actually been able to understand why I am the way I am and work through my issues. (I found out a year later that my parents actually had me tested in first grade and I was diagnosed then, but they intentionally kept it from me my whole life.)

I know this is just one anecdote, but it's a common discussion point online that mental healthcare like this isn't always the most accessible. I think well-intentioned research and self-diagnosis can certainly have their place, depending on one's circumstances, and as long as care is taken to avoid unscientific information.

I don't know what to think about it anymore myself. it does seem like a trend.

But at the same time as someone diagnosed in my 30's that meds really helped. i'd feel like i'm pulling up the ladder on others.

The neurodiversity at work trend does irk me a little, especially when people start talking about so called "superpowers" and their benefits to the company.

The biggest quarrel I have with it is that even if you get clinically tested, at least in the cases where I asked friends who got tested, they did not even try to rule out other causes, like repressed childhood trauma/cPTSD. People might end up on potentially lifelong medication, where other treatment options and recovery may be available.

see e.g. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00922-8 , https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/adhd-linked-to-trauma

What are your clinical observations and opinions on actual research backed treatments? I am mainly concerned about the efficacy of stimulants as a treatment as opposed to non-stimulants and psychotherapeutic interventions.

Also, is there are evidence based instruments to aid in diagnosis, then why do those same instruments tend to magically be removed from care during the treatment phase?

For the sake of analogy, if a patient were to be diagnosed with hypertension and an anti-hypertensive medication regiment is started. I imagine upon returning for a follow up visit, the patient's blood pressure will be remeasured in order to verify the efficacy of the treatment.

For ADHD, I had to go through quite a significant diagnostic process before being given the green light for treatment. Upon returning for a follow up, the only methodology used to gauge treatment efficacy is being asked, "How is <insert medication> work for you?"

I always try to answer the question honestly, but after almost 12 years of treatment, I still am not sure what to expect in terms of treatment. Are such questions truly the only evaluation of treatment? How can one tell if medication is working better than they realize or not at all? Perhaps my expectations are too high? Also, wouldn't some metric help determine if tolerance is occurring?

In my (anecdotal but decades long) experience, psych folks tend to be overconfident in their methods and tools and evidence. As if studies provide ironclad proof that your way is the best and only way to go. That hasn't been my experience at all and it's pretty easy to find a crapton of neurodivergent folks that would agree.

I am biased too but I have endured a lot of anguish putting my faith in psych professionals. The vast majority of progress I've made over the years has come via discussions with other folks like me. But you claim it's unsafe? It's been more effective (and safer) to find my own way.

What do you think of what the app is trying to accomplish? I see it as a attempt at self intervention or helping someone get started.

You mentioned evidence about what works and what doesn't. As someone who struggled with ADHD, I am curious about your thoughts on the app intentions or goals.

Curious about your thoughts on homebuilt AI tools for dealing with ADHD side effects. I've identified a handful of habits I struggle with but want to do, and thought processes that can be challenging. I've planned to plug these into an LLM to have it do midday checkins about how I'm feeling and then respond in line with what I want to focus on.

Never occurred to me that something focused on symptoms instead of treatment could be harmful, but I suppose it's worth considering.

How is $5/mo a cash grab? Psychiatrists charge more

The AI generated images were an immediate turn-off to me as well. Whatever one thinks of the aesthetics, they're a huge signal that I'm looking at a product that's focused on monetizing me.

The overall design is unfocused and cluttered, just the exact thing I don't need as someone with ADHD.

I don't think I'd use this.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm a bad UI designer. But I've already found one and will make the UI better soon!

One of the file name is "1750927062274_ChatGPT Image Jun 26, 2025, 11_33_18 AM (1)" - so yes, +1 for AI.

I concur on the AI generated images. There is frankly significant overlap between folks who struggle with ADHD and folks who are direct harmed or displaced by the use of AI generated images, I think you would be better off without images at all.

To add some variety, I think the images look fine.

Idk wtf is wrong with these people whining about AI generated images.

It didn’t get any attention last time. I give them a pass for trying again.

have you tried Dark Mode in a browser like Brave?

I use that on mobile so the referenced website, HN, and 99.9% of the web is in dark mode by default.

Aren't those kind of tests... how I'd put it politely?... less than meaningful?

First of all, it's not really well done: there are no control questions, no inverted questions, no consistency checks (like re-phrased duplicate questions) or anything a well-designed self-test must have. All answers are obviously ranked, introducing perception biases. Questions like "how often do you interrupt someone" or "how often you were told" or "did parents notice" are highly culturally-dependent. The childhood questions do not discern between younger and older ages (where behavioral differences are drastic), and likely to introduce a skew based on one's age and long-term memory function (which, AFAIK, ADHD does not directly affect). To me it looks like nothing of value would be lost if the whole test would be replaced with a short description what ADHD is and then a single yes/no question "do you think you may have some of the described symptoms?"

I would understand something like ANT, which (as I understand it) tests way closer to actual brain behavior, than those distant derivatives smeared over social prisms, self-perception lenses, and dice rolls of life's [pseudo-]randomness.

I have ADHD myself. I do a lot of my service based on my experience and the experience of others with ADHD.

Thank you! For now, there are customization options only for background sounds. But in the future there will be an intelligent system for selecting self-help techniques. And you can take a short test to find out your current state.