Girls and women are more likely to experience symptoms of inattention rather than hyperactivity or impulsiveness. Females with ADHD are also more vulnerable to depression and anxiety and tend to be diagnosed later because their symptoms are typically less disruptive.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is recognized to exist in males and females although the literature supports a higher prevalence in males. However, when girls are diagnosed with ADHD, they are more often diagnosed as predominantly inattentive than boys with ADHD.
Though not often listed as symptoms, other indications of ADHD in girls and women include co-occurring depression and anxiety, difficult romantic relationships that can lead to intimate partner violence, trouble maintaining friendships, and at least one space in her life in disarray (messy house, messy bedroom, or ...
Other studies suggest a gender difference in the presentation of ADHD, with females more likely to present with inattentive symptoms and males more likely to present with combined symptoms and higher rates of hyperactivity and impulsivity [8, 14].
Instead, women have the same rates of inattentive-type symptoms as boys and men, but are less likely to have hyperactive/impulsive-type symptoms. That means women are just as likely as boys and men to have inattentive-type ADHD, but are less likely to have hyperactive/impulsive-type and mixed-type ADHD.
Symptom differences between girls and boys
These hyperactive/impulsive symptoms get noticed more easily by parents and teachers while inattentive symptoms sometimes get ignored. Girls are also less likely to be diagnosed earlier because they often display more symptoms of anxiety.
Interestingly, girls with untreated ADHD may be more likely to blame and judge themselves for these problems, leading to a higher risk for low self-esteem than boys who have ADHD. They may also be more likely to have problems with substance abuse, eating disorders, and anxiety.
While the prevalence rates are increasingly similar by gender, the diagnosis rate among American men is nearly 69% higher than it is among American women (5.4% of men in the U.S. have an ADHD diagnosis vs. just 3.2% of women.1)
Symptom differences between girls and boys
These hyperactive/impulsive symptoms get noticed more easily by parents and teachers while inattentive symptoms sometimes get ignored. Girls are also less likely to be diagnosed earlier because they often display more symptoms of anxiety.
Other women with this disorder are able to maintain their composure yet still feel anxious and annoyed. Women with ADD may also be impatient about life and events. A woman may plan her whole education or life in one day and need for it to happen immediately. She goes into things full swing rather than step-by-step.
Children with ADHD show specific signs of the three major ADHD symptoms: hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inattention. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 core behaviors could indicate that your child has ADHD.
Jesse explained that the ADHD brain gets productive once it has found momentum, so he tries to hack his brain to get to that state by fueling his tasks with the 4 Cs of motivation (Captivate, Create, Compete, Complete). He starts with the one that seems the most fun.
Interestingly, girls with untreated ADHD may be more likely to blame and judge themselves for these problems, leading to a higher risk for low self-esteem than boys who have ADHD. They may also be more likely to have problems with substance abuse, eating disorders, and anxiety.