ADHD Is Often Missed in Women
One of the chief difficulties faced by women with ADHD who are going through menopause is that many may not even know that they have ADHD. In childhood, boys are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, with a diagnosis rate of 13 percent, compared with 7 percent in girls. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that more boys have ADHD. Research suggests that girls tend to experience ADHD symptoms differently from boys, leading to underdiagnosis.
“Girls with ADHD tend to present with more internalizing symptoms like inattention, disorganization, and distractibility,” says Allison Deutch, MD, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City. “Internalizing symptoms are more subtle and may delay diagnosis.” Boys, on the other hand, often exhibit more externalizing symptoms such as oppositional, disruptive, or hyperactive behavior, which may lead to higher rates of referral for diagnosis and treatment.
