ADHD Is Often Missed in Women<\/p>\n
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\u2019t necessarily mean that more boys have ADHD. Research suggests that girls tend to experience ADHD symptoms differently from boys, leading to underdiagnosis.<\/p>\n
\u201cGirls with ADHD tend to present with more internalizing symptoms like inattention, disorganization, and distractibility,\u201d says Allison Deutch, MD<\/a>, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City. \u201cInternalizing symptoms are more subtle and may delay diagnosis.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n