The truth about ADHD in women? Well, according to this article in the National Institute of Health, males are generally more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than females. This is proven by a shocking male to female ratio of approximately 4:1 in community samples. Now, why is this so?
In this article, ONE attempts to explain this baffling statistic. We’re going to go through:
- What is ADHD (in brief! we have a more detailed article here)
- Possible symptoms of ADHD in women
- Why ADHD in women is less commonly diagnosed
- Treatment for ADHD
If that sounds like a lot to take in all at once, don’t worry. We’ll break each section down, step by step. Okay? Okay, let’s get started!
What Is ADHD?
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Simply put, it’s a neurodevelopmental disorder. This means that the symptoms arising from ADHD are due to differences in brain structure. ADHD results in the individual having issues with hyperactivity, inattentiveness and impulsivity.
Generally, ADHD can be presented in three forms:
- Predominantly hyperactive presentation
- Predominantly inattentive presentation
- Hybrid presentation
In our article here, we go through the symptoms of each presentation in great detail. For brevity’s sake (and in case you’ve forgotten), we’ll do a very short run-down of each presentation. This is because we need to understand what ADHD actually is, before delving into the discrepancy in diagnoses for ADHD in women.
Predominantly Hyperactive Presentation
Okay, so predominantly hyperactive presentation manifests as restlessness. An individual with this form of ADHD is more fidgety than their peers without ADHD.
While it’s normal for all kids to have some level of restlessness, a child with predominantly hyperactive presentation takes it to the extreme. They may run and jump about even in inappropriate environments such as a classroom or a study room. This is not to be disruptive, but simply because it’s the only outlet they can think of to release their excess energy.
Predominantly Inattentive Presentation
Next, predominantly inattentive presentation. This subtype of ADHD means that the individual is unable to focus for as long or as hard as their peers without ADHD.
Again, everyone drifts off once in a while. However, a person with this subtype of ADHD will have trouble paying close attention to detail even in everyday tasks. They may forget the placement of frequently used objects, such as their keys and wallets. Also, they could be more easily distracted than someone without ADHD.
Hybrid Presentation
Of course, this means that the hybrid presentation can have any combination of symptoms from both subtypes of ADHD. There needs to be a minimum of six symptoms from each presentation. However, the combination of symptoms does not necessarily need to be of equal proportion, so long as there are a minimum of six symptoms from each presentation!
What Are The Possible Symptoms Of ADHD In Women?
Now that we’ve covered what ADHD is, let’s talk about ADHD in women. According to this article by WebMD, there is little research about ADHD in women. We’ll get more into the reasoning behind that, later.
However, there is sufficient research done to prove that the effects of ADHD impact women differently than it does men. Here are some of the more common symptoms of ADHD in women:
Disorganisation
People with ADHD have their brains structured slightly differently. Specifically, the parts of their brain that controls executive function (mental processes that help you start and finish tasks) are wired differently.
Hence, women with ADHD may have difficulty organising and prioritising projects. This is especially true for projects that require multiple steps and stages. Also, women with ADHD may start projects easily but have trouble completing them. ADHD in women may also manifest as being prone to losing or misplacing things.
None of this is due to ‘laziness’ or needing to ‘try harder’. In fact, this article by Cleveland Clinic explains that the frontal lobe of the brain manages executive function. When the frontal lobe is wired differently, the person’s working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibition control can be affected.
Therefore, all of this can cause ADHD in women to manifest as disorganisation.
Difficulty With Social Boundaries
ADHD in women can cause them to have difficulty with social boundaries. For example, they may find themselves talking excessively about a topic of their interest. This is called info-dumping. It’s not because they wish to hog the conversation, but rather because it simply does not occur to them that they are crossing some social boundaries.
Alternatively, women with ADHD may find themselves blurting out what they say before they have a chance to fully think things through. Thus, they may interrupt others, or finish other people’s sentences. And of course, this isn’t always ideal during social interactions.
For women with the inattentive presentation of ADHD, it may often seem like they’re not paying attention to the topic at hand. In some cases, it can be described as having a ‘thousand-yard-stare.’
Forgetful And Absentminded In Daily Tasks
ADHD in women can also result in them being more forgetful and absentminded. This is true even for daily tasks. For example, they can have trouble remembering dates or events, even after being reminded by others.
lternatively, women with ADHD may find that they frequently misplace important objects, such as their keys and their wallets. This could happen even after having a designated place for said objects.
They may also seem more easily distracted and be unable to stay focused on one task for very long. In some cases, this may cause women with ADHD to drift off and be described as frequently ‘daydreaming.’
To Note
It should be noted that all of the above are not the exhaustive list of ADHD symptoms.
That is to say, each person with ADHD is unique. Just having some of the symptoms here does not necessarily mean that they have ADHD, and the inverse is true.
However, if you’d like some further reading, we’ve got you. This article by the Attention Deficit Disorder Association offers a more comprehensive list of symptoms of ADHD in women.
Why Is ADHD In Women Less Commonly Diagnosed?
Historical Perspective
Historically, ADHD was viewed as a male disorder. This meant that it was thought that only young, hyperactive and impulsive boys could get diagnosed with ADHD. Also, ADHD was viewed as a childhood disorder. Thus, people assumed that only children could be diagnosed with ADHD – it was something you grew out of.
Of course, we now know that ADHD is neither a male nor childhood disorder. To be clear, it can be diagnosed in adult females as well. But researchers were unaware of this for many years, so there’s a knowledge gap between what we know about ADHD in men, and what we know about ADHD in women.
As a result, there is a naturally higher tendency for scientists and doctors to overlook ADHD diagnoses in women.
Gender Bias
Generally, society expects women to play a variety of roles: Mother, wife, and primary caregiver, to name a few. For women without ADHD, whose executive functioning (as we earlier discussed) have no issues, meeting these expectations are already quite demanding.
For women with ADHD, this is even moreso. According to this article by ADDitude, women with ADHD often mask their symptoms in order to conform to societal expectations. They do this in order to gain social approval and acceptance.
However, this masking due to gender bias makes it even harder for ADHD to be diagnosed in women. Naturally, this causes ADHD to be less commonly diagnosed in women than in men.
ADHD Presents Differently In Women
Research has shown that women with ADHD are more likely to present as the inattentive subtype than men, rather than the hyperactive subtype.
On the other hand, men tend to present with the hyperactive subtype. This means that men with ADHD can be more fidgety and restless, which is easier to diagnose as ADHD. This article by Verywell Mind goes into a more in-depth explanation.
In any case, it’s more common for women with the inattentive subtype of ADHD to be written off as ‘daydream-y’ or ‘easily distracted’. In other words, they may mistake ADHD to be personal flaws or issues that are ‘just in their head’.
This makes it less likely for women with ADHD to actually seek a diagnosis. Therefore, the presentation of ADHD in each sex contributes to the discrepancy in ADHD diagnoses between males and females.
Treatment
ADHD is definitely treatable, in both women and men. As mentioned in our other article about ADHD, it can’t be fully ‘cured’, but it can be managed to a level where the executive dysfunction does not impact the individual’s daily life. (Read more about it in our article about high-functioning ADHD!) This is done primarily through two methods:
- Medication
- Therapy
Medication
People with ADHD can be treated with two types of medication: stimulants and non-stimulants. Stimulants work by increasing the level of chemicals, called neurotransmitters, in the brain. This helps to alleviate the issues with executive functioning.
For example, according to this article by Farrer Park, methylphenidate is a common stimulant used to treat ADHD in Singapore. It’s a prescription-only medication that is available at most mental health clinics and restructured hospitals.
On the other hand, non-stimulants increase the level of chemicals called norepinephrine in the brain. Unlike stimulants, non-stimulants are not controlled substances. This means that the individual has a lower chance of misusing or becoming dependent on non-stimulants.
Both stimulants and non-stimulants can safely and effectively treat ADHD. However, it’s best to speak with a professional to determine which medication might be the most effective for the individual.
Therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can greatly help individuals with ADHD. CBT helps them find more effective coping mechanisms to manage ADHD.
For example, CBT addresses why the individual might be procrastinating because of their ADHD. CBT can also help the individual to come up with a more effective strategy that minimises their procrastination time.
Other types of therapy that can be used to treat ADHD include mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. This therapy aims to reduce distractibility and improve emotional regulation. This is done through techniques such as meditation and mindfulness.
For more information on the different types of therapy used to treat ADHD, this article by VeryWell Mind could be helpful.
And of course, ONE Intervention is more than happy to offer our own services. We have highly experienced staff who specialise in ADHD therapy, specifically for children. Drop us a text here to find out more!
Final Thoughts
So, we now understand what ADHD is. And we know that ADHD in women is far less commonly diagnosed than ADHD in men. We’ve gone through some of the reasons why this could be the case, and some signs to look out for ADHD in women. Finally, we’ve recapped some of the treatment methods for people with ADHD.
Do you have any questions? Would you like to share your own experience, or that of your loved one with ADHD? Whatever it is, feel free to drop us a comment below – we’d be happy to respond 💬👇