How does the clinical picture of ADHD differ in males and females?

Dr Johnson Consultant Psychiatrist in Neurodevelopmental disorders goes through how to recognise the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in girls and women.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed behavioural disorders in children and information technology's oft a lifelong condition. Information technology is known every bit a Neurodeveoplemtal disorder which means parts of the brain which control emotions, learning, self-control and memory are affected.

The characteristics of ADHD fall nether the following domains. Firstly relating to focus and attention difficulties. Then we have impulsive traits and finally hyperactivity symptoms. Some symptoms include:

● having difficulty sitting nevertheless
● trouble concentrating or focusing, being distracted
● having difficulty staying organised
● beingness forgetful
● tasks incompletion

Other examples of neurodevelopmental disorders include Autism, Learning disabilities and behave disorders. This listing is not exhaustive and new changes fabricated to the fifth edition of the DSM include other psychiatric disorders (https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm).

ADHD and other conditions

Neurodevelopmental disorders frequently coexist. For example, you may have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) together with intellectual disability. Or you may take (ADHD) and a specific learning disorder.

We have clinical medical research suggesting that ADHD is hereditary. This means if your father or mother has inattentive or hyperactive symptoms, you lot are more than likely to have ADHD too.

In my clinical exercise, I have noticed that ADHD diagnoses amidst women are on the rise and that more than and more than women are looking for answers to their difficulties. About of the new patients who are diagnosed with Adult ADHD are relieved as they can brand sense of their difficulties, which virtually e'er looks different to the typical male ADHD motion-picture show. Due to this traditional imagery of ADHD, these women are disregarded and less likely to exist referred for mental health services.

What does ADHD in women look like?

It is worth remembering that ADHD is non gender biased. It was not so long ago where we all knew of ADHD in the context of naughty confusing schoolhouse boys bouncing off the walls. ADHD symptoms exist in both females and males and in the same proportions. We have a huge gap in the diagnosis profile with males well-nigh three times more probable to be diagnosed with ADHD than females. ADHD really does wait unlike in women.

Therefore it is for this reason, many women abound upwards feeling misunderstood. Sometimes their difficulties are mistaken for being "hormonal" or "anxious". At times the ADHD symptoms are attributed to the personality type of beingness "the chatty ones" and more than social.

As with any mental health disorder, symptoms tin can vary and this can even vary between the genders. Women with ADHD, when reporting childhood experiences, are the ones who "daydream" or doodle on their work. They oft study "zoning" in and out, when they should be listening in course.

Research has shown that girls and women are less likely to be diagnosed as parents and teachers are non quite certain what to wait out for fifty-fifty if they do notice some difficulties.

Therefore inattentive ADHD is likewise more than common in women than it is in boys and men, who tend to lean towards the hyperactive and impulsive symptoms. As males may display "external" symptoms such equally fidgeting and hyperactivity they are more likely than girls to exist diagnosed with ADHD.

In school or college women with ADHD are bright and intelligent. This is due to the fact that their symptoms are more than subtle. All the same, they may underperform at critical times such as their exams, due to concentration issues.

Diagnosis afterward in life

Many women get overlooked until afterwards in life when they brainstorm to struggle to brand sense of the difficulties they have been encountering. Ofttimes females may go left behind and diagnose later in life because they are able to "cover upwardly" the ADHD symptoms. It's only later in life, when responsibilities of family unit and work build up that it becomes difficult for women to manage ADHD.

"ADHD symptoms in women can frequently be misunderstood and misdiagnosed past medical professionals, mistaking them for stress, anxiety, or another related condition"

Some common signs of ADHD in Women

Here are some ways that ADHD might prove upward in your life:

  • You struggle to relax and unwind every bit your mind is on the go
  • Y'all are a high achiever just so feel frustrated that you have not met your full potential
  • You struggle to movement forward with your goals
  • Forgotten projects and unpaid bills just keep piling up
  • At social gatherings you feel overwhelmed and shy but can end upwardly talking over people as yous are nervous
  • Your mind drifts during conversations unless you're the one talking or it's a topic you notice very interesting
  • Friendships can exist a struggle because social rules seem complicated
  • Growing up, you had so much energy and liked to exist busy- but later in life you are just wearied and burning out
  • You oftentimes overspend to compensate for other issues. For instance, you lot don't have an outfit to vesture for an office party so you buy a new one but don't actually have the money for this.
  • Shopping trips and stores overwhelm you, and y'all observe information technology difficult to make decisions about what to buy.

ADHD and Woman power

ADHD as a diagnosis and condition does not need to behave the negative load of chaos and systems failure motion-picture show that it might look like. Every bit a adult female with ADHD, it is traits such as beingness enthusiastic, energised and "hyperfocused" where projects and goals tin be achieved. The main thing to know information technology is try to set realistic goals.

ADHD Actions to have

Seek help – ADHD is highly treatable in both women and men of all ages. Our options are medication, behavioral therapy, or indeed a combination of the 2 which assist symptoms very well.

Don't be discouraged if the first medication or intervention is non an exact fit for you.
Take the fourth dimension to notice the minor progress and improvements in daily life afterward putting some ADHD friendly strategies in identify such as planners and apps.

Try not to see the setbacks as personal failure but setbacks as functions of the condition.

Be optimistic nearly the status and treatment – starting treatment in childhood but at any age can take a huge touch on on future outcomes and performance.

Do not get stuck in the negative labelling – visualise success can exist encouraged by the progress.