Evaluating and Diagnosing ADHD in Girls and Women
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often presents differently in girls and women than boys and men, which can make it more challenging to identify. The stereotypical symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity may be less overt, leading to missed or late diagnoses. As clinicians, we need to better understand the unique ADHD profiles girls and women may exhibit.
Inattentive symptoms like disorganization, distractibility, and difficulty completing tasks tend to predominate over hyperactive ones. Girls with ADHD tend to be less disruptive in classrooms, so issues can be overlooked. Complex trauma and undiagnosed autism can also complicate diagnostic clarity. Adult women with ADHD may present with a history of mood disorders, substance abuse, relationship problems, and job instability that originated from untreated ADHD.
It’s essential that our diagnostic process uncovers how symptoms like forgetfulness, procrastination, emotional dysregulation, and losing things can impair functioning. Rating scales like the ASRS v1.1 can aid us, along with collateral history from multiple sources. We must keep probing how intermittent struggles with concentration, focus, task completion, and impulse control may have negatively impacted development. Doing so allows us to make accurate diagnoses and implement appropriate treatment to help girls and women thrive.
