October is ADHD Awareness Month, and it is important to talk about ADHD in women and girls.
For a long time, it was believed that ADHD only affects boys and men. However, the prevalence of ADHD in women is almost the same as that of ADHD in men (CHADD, 2024). ADHD in women and girls just isn’t always diagnosed!
How is ADHD in Women and Girls Different?
Women and girls don’t always present with the hyperactivity that is common in male clients (CHADD, 2024). Women are more likely to come in seeking support for anxiety or depression, which is actually caused by their underlying ADHD. It is also not uncommon for women to come in seeking an ADHD evaluation after having a child be diagnosed (CHADD, 2024).
What Can You Do If You Suspect ADHD?
We want to validate that no matter the reason for a delayed diagnosis, it is a frustrating experience! If you suspect ADHD or just want to learn more about the symptoms you are experiencing, we encourage you to ask questions, seek an evaluation, and advocate for yourself and the care that you deserve!
Books That May Help:
- Smart but Scattered Series by Dr. Peg Dawson, Dr. Richard Guare, and Colin Guare
- How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis
- How to ADHD by Jessica McCabe
- The Anti-Planner by Dani Donovan
Other ADHD Resources:
- Time Timer – Visual Timer (or, really all of their products)
- MindChuk
- Goblin.Tools (specifically Magic ToDo)
- Focus Friend
- Apple’s Shortcuts App
More on ADHD From Our Team
References:
Attoe, D. E., & Climie, E. A. (2023). Miss.. diagnosis: A systematic review of ADHD in Adult Women. Journal of Attention Disorders, 27(7), 645–657. https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547231161533
CHADD. (2024, October 3). Women and girls. https://chadd.org/for-adults/women-and-girls/
Gerlach, A. (2026, October 12). The lost girls: UNMASKING ADHD in Adult Women. Pharmacy Times. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/the-lost-girls-unmasking-adhd-in-adult-women