Why Greater Research on Women with ADHD is so Important

It is widely known that ADHD research was mainly carried out on men and boys, this is how the stereotype of ADHD was created of the naughty schoolboy who can’t sit still in the classroom. When it comes to women and girls, it’s a whole different picture. Granted, the 3 types of ADHD, hyperactive and impulsive, inattention, and combined, can present in both males and females, but it is becoming more apparent today how dangerous the lack of female research on ADHD is for women and girls.

How Does ADHD Present in Women?

Until recently, males were diagnosed with ADHD up to 3 times more than females, this is mainly due to lack of research and the knowledge that ADHD presents the same in both men and women. This has led to a huge number of women being misdiagnosed with other conditions, such as anxiety and depression.

For females, the inattentive ADHD type tends to be more prominent, seeming in a daydream, not paying attention, and getting easily distracted, however, hyperactive and impulsive behaviours can still be present, such as not being able to sit still, interrupting conversations, and lacking a sense of danger. 

The line is not clear, which makes diagnosis for women so much harder. Other examples of how ADHD can present in women are being the chatty one in social situations, often feeling shy with nerves pushing them to talk excessively, often interrupting others' conversations, and being more social than others. Not what you would expect from a woman with ADHD, but this can be a form of masking—trying to appear normal as a way of fitting in. Masking is much higher in women than men and another reason why diagnosing women is so much harder.

Why is Female ADHD Research so Lacking?

Research on women with ADHD is nearly non-existent, which means that there is very little evidence on how ADHD affects hormonal fluctuations of puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and beyond. The changes that women face throughout their lives play a huge part in both a lack of research and misdiagnoses, add to this a higher number of women mask their symptoms than men, making it difficult for medical professionals to diagnose a symptom as ADHD or something else.

The Dangers Women Face from a Lack of Research.

For many women, their ADHD symptoms can become debilitating as their hormone levels fluctuate throughout the month, due to this they are more likely to suffer from low self-esteem, self-harming behaviours, poor social relationships, and emotional dysregulation. Women with ADHD are also thought to experience more psychological distress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and eating disorders than men.

Other ways a lack of research can affect women and girls are:

• Academic underachievement.

• Unemployment.

• Relationship difficulties.

• Increased risk of substance abuse.

• Mental health disorders.

• Risk of unwanted pregnancies and sexual violence.

What Research is Needed for Accurate Diagnoses and Effective Treatment of Female ADHD?

• Female Sensitive and Precise Screening Tool.

Developing more sensitive and precise screening tools that can better identify women and girls who may have ADHD and examining hormonal levels across the reproductive lifespan including puberty onset, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum period, menopause, and post-menopause.

• Why ADHD Has a Greater Toll on Females.

Understanding the hormone cycle including PMS and PMDD, and how isolation, shame, and despair lead to anxiety and depression.

• Core Symptoms of ADHD in Women.

More research is needed to understand the core symptoms across a woman’s and girl’s lifespan, including the typical trajectory of onset and the key points of intervention for women with ADHD.

• Hormonal Fluctuations and Their Impact on Female ADHD.

Understanding how hormones interact with neurotransmitters, figuring out what is most helpful for women at different stages in their cycle such as an antidepressant, increased stimulant dosage, etc., and understanding why some women feel better with oral contraceptives and others feel depressed.

• Sexual and Reproductive Health for Women with ADHD.

Understanding what barriers women face, what daily life challenges they experience, and if negative sexual and reproductive outcomes are more prevalent in females with ADHD compared to those without.

ADHD Assessment for Women and Girls.

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 responsibilities, careers, and children subside, time slows down, and it may become clearer that they have been masking their ADHD symptoms all along.

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 where you finally want some answers, we understand that the NHS waiting list is not ideal.

Beyond Clinics: Private ADHD Clinic in Manchester.

Beyond is a private ADHD clinic in Manchester, here to help women, girls, families, and men and boys, navigate the ADHD assessment, diagnosis, and treatment journey together. 

At Beyond we understand the greater impact ADHD has on women than men and we want to be part of the change. If you would like to speak to one of Beyond’s friendly and personal team about obtaining an ADHD assessment for women, don’t hesitate to contact us today.