Could YOU have ADHD and not know it? These are the 15 overlooked signs... as 75% of women are never diagnosed
Diagnoses of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have been on a steady climb over the past decade - but one demographic is still being overlooked: women.
Much of what scientists know about ADHD comes from studies that have focused on men, but the disorder looks a lot different in women, Dr Janina Maschke, a cognitive psychologist and ADHD coach, said.
Women with ADHD are often dismissed for their symptoms - which might include shyness, sensitivity to noise and emotional volatility.
They're often told they're just 'bubbly' or that their symptoms are caused by their period, anxiety or depression.
Women with ADHD struggle with organization and focus, but they also have different symptoms that doctors might overlook - including emotional sensitivity and shyness, Dr Maschke said
Men, by contrast, tend to deal with impulsivity, hyperactivity and inattentiveness more often than women with the disorder.
This created a system in which three times more men are diagnosed with the disorder than women.
Some estimates report as much as 75 percent of women with the condition are undiagnosed, according to the Center for ADHD Awareness, Canada (CADDAC).
This is in part because women get by easier if they suppress their symptoms, Dr Sasha Hamdani, a psychiatrist based in Kansas City said.
'Society rewards women for masking their symptoms,' Dr Hamdani, posted on TikTok.
They mask these symptoms because women are socialized to be 'less disruptive and more compliant', according to the Sachs Center for ADHD and Autism treatment.
In turn, they may develop coping mechanisms like becoming detail oriented or hyper organized in order to hide their internal turmoil.
To help give people a concrete idea of what this might look like in women, Dr Maschke told Newsweek 15 ADHD symptoms women commonly suffer that you might not recognize are characteristic of the condition.
They include: appearing withdrawn and shy, being emotionally volatile, frequently daydreaming, being chatty but a poor listener, seeming unmotivated, being sensitive to noise or fabrics, taking longer to process information, slamming doors, being easily distracted, making careless mistakes and often interrupting others or blurting out words.
Some suggest that someone with ADHD already has a busy mind - and that unexpected noises, smells or touches can cause extreme discomfort and overwhelm the individual, according to Community Health Network.
There are still some of the classic symptoms you might already associate with ADHD, including struggling to maintain focus, having trouble organizing, being forgetful and late, making 'careless' mistakes, failing to complete tasks or frequently shifting focus.
'This difference in symptom presentation can lead to boys being diagnosed more frequently than girls, as they externalize their symptoms and might disrupt others at school' Dr Maschke said.
This is why female ADHD is sometimes referred to as inattentive ADHD, because women with the disorder may be better at appearing to pay attention - while being withdrawn internally - than men, who are more likely to act out when they're unfocused.
Females with ADHD are more likely to struggle to make friends, and are 3.5 times more at risk for developing an eating disorder, depression and anxiety than men with ADHD, according to CADDAC.
Conversely, men with ADHD are more likely to develop substance use problems.
While the disorder may be missed in some people, overall ADHD diagnoses in the United States are still high - and on the rise.
CDC data shows the number of women age 15 to 44 who filled a prescription for ADHD medication increased 344 percent from 2003 to 2015.
Between 2.5 percent and 4.4 percent of American adults, roughly 11million people, are affected by ADHD.
It's more commonly diagnosed in children - roughly 11 percent of Americans between age three and 17 have the condition, roughly 7million people, according to the CDC.
That's about 1million more children with the disease than in 2016 - a rising rate that led the CDC to declare ADHD an 'expanding public health concern.'
The average age of diagnosis is seven years old and 15 percent of boys under 18 are diagnosed with the disorder, compared to eight percent of girls under 18.
Diagnoses tend to be higher among children because initially, ADHD was almost exclusively studied in children and there is no formal formal diagnostic criteria for adult ADHD, Dr Frances Levin, a Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University, said.
Some experts therefore theorize that doctors are over-diagnosing the condition - especially in children.
But, Dr Levin said, it's likely both stories are true - some people are likely misdiagnosed, while others are being missed entirely.
'It’s difficult to get a clear picture of how many individuals in this country fit a clinical definition for ADHD, when there are no U.S. guidelines for diagnosis and evaluation of ADHD in adults,' Dr Levin said.
If you suspect you might have the condition, it's best not to jump to conclusions before speaking to a doctor, Dr Maschke said.
'As a first step, it can be good to start by consulting with a pediatrician or a mental health specialist who can conduct a thorough assessment.'
ADHD is typically treated with therapy, and if a patient is over six years old, medication. The therapy is aimed at helping the person be able to pay attention, form relationships and self-regulate when they're feeling overwhelmed.
