How ADHD presents in Women and Girls

Today, more and more women are obtaining an ADHD assessment and gaining a diagnosis, many feeling they have struggled for years and finally feel validated to seek answers. The typical hyperactive picture painted of a male with ADHD is rarely the same picture presented of women and girls, which can make it difficult to take those first steps into ADHD assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, leading to many women and girls being overlooked. 

Types of ADHD and its Symptoms

There are 3 main types of ADHD, Inattentiveness which affects focus and concentration, Hyperactivity, and Impulsiveness which affects the ability to control behaviours such as moving and talking constantly, and combined which is a mixture of both. There are 9 symptoms of each ADHD type, and to gain a diagnosis, you need to exhibit at least 6 of the 9 symptoms from each list.

9 symptoms of Inattentive ADHD:

• Forgetfulness of daily activities e.g., appointments, paying bills, remembering schoolwork.

• Easily distracted by other things and own thoughts.

• Misplacing and losing things often.

• Avoid engaging in difficult tasks that require a lot of mental effort for a long time.

• Difficulty with organising themselves, others, and tasks and activities such as meeting deadlines, and time management.

• Difficulty finishing tasks and following instructions.

• Difficulty listening to and understanding instructions given.

• Finding it hard to sustain focus and attention over a long period.

• Difficulty working with details and often makes mistakes.

9 symptoms of Hyperactive and Impulsive ADHD:

• Difficulty remaining still, often fidgeting.

• A feeling of constant restlessness.

• Talking excessively.

• Often interrupting conversations.

• Difficulty waiting their turn or waiting in line.

• Finding it hard to remain seated in work meetings or school classrooms.

• Not able to engage in social or leisure activities quietly.

• Finding it hard to remain still over a long period such as in work meetings or school assemblies.

• Often answers questions before they have been completed or finishes someone else’s sentence. 

How Do These ADHD Traits Present in Women and Girls?

Until recently, males have been predominantly diagnosed with ADHD, up to 3 times more than females and the way ADHD presents itself is very different in both. There are exceptions to the rule, but males tend to have the hyperactive and impulsive type of ADHD, with constant movement, talking excessively, and being unable to control their impulses. For females, the inattentive ADHD type is more prominent, seeming in a daydream, not paying attention, and getting easily distracted. 

It wasn’t long ago that ADHD was thought to present the same in men and women, leading women to be misdiagnosed with other conditions, due to this, many women started to mask their symptoms, a way of hiding your ADHD traits and appearing “normal”, as a way of fitting in. This masking has led to uncertainty in women understanding and knowing if they have ADHD, sometimes being mistaken for hormones or anxiety.

Some examples of how ADHD presents in women could be; the chatty one in social situations, often feeling shy but nerves push them to talk excessively, often interrupting others' conversations, and being more social than others.

Research has shown that girls are less likely to be diagnosed correctly as parents and teachers often are not sure what to look out for. Some examples of how ADHD can present in girls, especially within education are; seeming to daydream, often zoning out and being inside their thoughts, and doodling on their work when they should be listening in class. 

Oftentimes, women and girls with ADHD tend to be very intelligent, due to their symptoms being more subtle and having a better ability to hide them, however, when it comes to exams, they may struggle with the concentration and focus necessary to complete the task. 

Why Are More Women Being Diagnosed Later in Life?

Inattentive ADHD is far more subtle than impulsivity and hyperactivity, therefore it is more likely to be missed and go undiagnosed throughout female childhood and adolescence. The busyness of school, college, and university exams, finding a job, marriage, and children means that women often get overlooked until later in life when they begin to struggle to make sense of their difficulties. Later in life, when the responsibilities and busyness of careers and children subside, time slows down, and it may become clearer that they have been masking their ADHD symptoms all along.

Common ways that ADHD shows up later in life for women are:

• Difficulty concentrating on conversations unless you’re interested in the topic.

• Difficulty keeping on top of projects, appointments, household bills, etc.

• Struggle to relax and switch off your brain.

• A feeling of frustration of not meeting goals either within your career or personally.

• Struggle to move forward with your goals.

• Social anxiety and feeling the need to talk excessively, sometimes interrupting others.

• Finding friendships a struggle and social rules complicated.

• Endless energy in childhood but now a constant feeling of exhaustion and burnout.

• Difficult managing money, often overspending.

• Shopping trips and making decisions on what to buy tend to be overwhelming. 

How talking to a specialist ADHD clinic can help.

Navigating an ADHD assessment and diagnosis doesn’t have to be overwhelming or have a negative stigma attached. ADHD can really be a superpower, and is part of your genetic makeup, making you unique. Endless enthusiasm, energy, and the ability to hyper-focus are traits that are extremely sought after, especially in education.

If you have a child, you suspect may have ADHD, it may help in talking to schoolteachers about your suspicions, they will be able to keep an eye on your child and even help with a diagnosis from what they observe in the classroom. In the workplace, speak to your boss, supervisor, or line manager about how you’re feeling, not only will this help with the stress of hiding your symptoms, but your employer may be able to help with the workload and your working environment. 

Beyond: A private ADHD Clinic in Manchester.

Gaining an ADHD assessment and diagnosis through the NHS can be lengthy and if, understandably, you have a child you want to help or you yourself are at the stage of life that you finally want some answers, we understand that the NHS waiting list is not ideal.

Speaking to an ADHD clinic could be the next step in your journey, and at Beyond, we are empowered by personal experience and are founded and run by people who have walked the ADHD path. We are here to help individuals, families, and children navigate ADHD assessment, diagnosis, and treatment together.

If you would like to speak to one of Beyond’s friendly and personal team about obtaining an ADHD assessment for your child, you can get in touch here.