Women with ADHD Falling Through the Cracks

Women with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are falling through the cracks, and it’s time to talk about it.

ADHD is not just a problem for kids and males. With centuries of cultural stereotypes about women’s supposed lack of intellect, women with ADHD are often overlooked and unacknowledged. 50%-75% of ADHD cases in females are missed.

This diagnosis gap happens partly because it’s a condition that was traditionally thought to affect mostly men, but also because women tend to have less obvious or socially disruptive symptoms than men. Males tend to be diagnosed more often and sooner because their symptoms are usually more physical and obvious. Inattentive ADHD, the most common ADHD presentation in females, tends to be mental rather than physical. Since many of these symptoms take place inside the mind, they can be easy for parents, patients and mental health professionals to miss.

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