ADHD in women and girls

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As with autism, there may be differences in how ADHD presents in women and girls. Women and girls tend to display more symptoms of inattentiveness than hyperactivity/impulsivity, but not always. 

Hyperactivity and impulsivity may also show up in different ways, such as a racing mind that is always on the go. 

ADHD in women and girls can often be missed because the features are less obvious. Particularly in children, boys tend to present with more disruptive or externalising behaviour, whereas girls often compensate for their difficulties with social strategies. Not recognising ADHD may impact on quality of life because the understanding, acceptance and support is not forthcoming. Women and girls are also more likely to have been diagnosed with anxiety or depression. This might be a misdiagnosis, because ADHD is a better explanation for the things they are experiencing, or they may have developed anxiety or depression as a result of not understanding themselves and coping as well as they might with the correct support. Many women also come to us a little later in life, perhaps when they notice sensory difficulties associated with parenting or perimenopause.

If you recognise features of ADHD in yourself, and would like to understand this better, please do contact us. We have a wealth of experience in assessing neurodivergent women, use evidence-based "gold-standard" tools, and also are skilled in digging deeper than the tools to pick up on those subtle behaviours that are so often missed.