MASTERPOST: ADHD in Women & Girls

These articles are about girls and women and ADHD, and sometimes about uterus-hormones + ADHD, both the process of diagnosis and navigating life as an ADHDer. But it can not be stressed enough that the experiences discussed in these articles are not required of or true for every girl/woman/person with a uterus, and plenty of people who aren’t girls/women/uterus-haver can experience these things and present in these ways, too!

That being said, these articles can still be useful for many people in their diagnostic journey (or that of their kids’), and so I am sharing them here.

Disclaimer:

Talking about “boy ADHD” and “girl ADHD” makes all those people who don’t fit the type feel left out or imposter-y, to say nothing of all the non-binary and genderqueer folks who get left out of the discussion all together. We absolutely need much more research on different presentations so we can get different names on these things and learn more about how gender and ADHD interact, especially beyond the binary.

These articles are heavily ciscentric and I’m truly sorry for that. I always have my eyes out for articles that are trans & NB-aware, but they are distressingly absent from the ADHD world. If anyone sees any, btw, PLEASE send them my way if you are willing/able!

From ADDitude:

ADHD in Women Symptom Checklist

ADHD in women often goes undiagnosed. Too many women grew up being called lazy, selfish, spacey, or dumb because their symptoms were ignored or disregarded. If you endured a childhood of insults and low self-esteem, take this self-test to see if you exhibit common symptoms of ADD. Then share the res…

Why ADHD in Women is Routinely Dismissed, Misdiagnosed, and Treated Inadequately

ADHD is not a male disorder, but men and boys are diagnosed far more commonly than women and girls. Why? Lingering stereotypes, referral bias, internalized symptoms, gender role expectations, comorbidities, and hormonal fluctuations all complicate the ADHD presentation in women. Here, learn about co…

• 5 Things Every Doctor (and Parent) Should Know about Girls and ADD
• ADHD in Girls: Why It’s Ignored, Why That’s Dangerous
• ADHD Looks Different in Women. Here’s How — and Why.
• ADHD, Women, and the Danger of Emotional Withdrawal
• Perimenopause Problems: How Changing Hormones Exacerbate ADHD Symptoms
• Stop the Cycle of Shame for Girls with ADHD
• “That Explains Everything!” Discovering My ADHD in Adulthood
• They Denied Her ADHD Because She Was Disciplined, Studious… and Indian
• Women, Hormones, and ADHD
• Why ADHD in Women is Routinely Dismissed, Misdiagnosed, and Treated Inadequately
• Why Women with ADHD Feel Disempowered — And What We Can Do About It
• Women with ADHD: No More Suffering in Silence

[Self-Test] ADHD Symptoms in Women

Symptoms of ADHD and ADD often manifest differently in men and women, many of whom grew up being called lazy or dumb while inattentive attention deficit was ignored or mislabeled as hormones or anxiety. Take this self-test to see if you exhibit the symptoms of ADD most common in women and girls. The…

Other Articles

ADHD in Women 101 | Kaleidoscope Society

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is neuro-developmental disorder that can cause difficulty with regulation of attention, executive function and working memory. There are three subtypes of ADHD:

ADHD Is Different for Women

The standard conception of the disorder is based on studies of “hyperactive young white boys.” For females, it comes on later, and has different symptoms.

• A Review of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Women and Girls: Uncovering This Hidden Diagnosis (Research)
• ADHD: a women’s issue: Psychologists are fighting gender bias in research on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (APA)
• Females with ADHD: An expert consensus statement taking a lifespan approach providing guidance for the identification and treatment of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder in girls and women (Research)
• How ADHD Symptoms Commonly Present in Women
• How Girls With ADHD Are Different
• How women and girls with ADHD are given short shrift with treatment, other forms of help
• The Hidden Struggles of a Woman with ADHD
• Under-diagnosed and under-treated, girls with ADHD face distinct risks
• Women and Girls (CHADD)

The lost girls: ‘Chaotic and curious, women with ADHD all have missed red flags that haunt us’

After multiple burnouts, in my early 30s I finally knew why life sometimes felt harder for me. It made perfect sense, so why had no one noticed before?

The Pandemic Surprise Many Women Did Not Expect? An ADHD Diagnosis.

It’s been a tipping point for some with the condition.