Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDifferencesSymptomsTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Differences
Symptoms
Treatment
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)can cause different symptoms in females than in males. Males, for example, tend to have higher rates ofhyperactivityandimpulsivitythan are typically seen in females. ADHD symptoms in women can include difficulty organizing or finishing tasks, following instructions, or paying attention to details.
The symptoms of ADHD can also differ in girls and women in that they may only be noticed later in life when there are problems at work, at home, or in relationships.
This article explains the possible factors that contribute to ADHD in females, as well as the symptoms commonly seen in girls and women. It also explores the various treatment options for this common neurodevelopmental disorder.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same.Sex refers to biology: chromosomal makeup, hormones, and anatomy. People are most often assigned male or female at birth based on their external anatomy; some people do not fit into that sex binary and are intersex.Gender describes a person’s internal sense of self as a woman, man, nonbinary person, or another gender, and the associated social and cultural ideas about roles, behaviors, expressions, and characteristics.Research studies sometimes don’t use the terminology in this way. For example, terms that describe gender (“woman,” “man”) may be used when terms for sex (“female,” “male”) are more appropriate.To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same.Sex refers to biology: chromosomal makeup, hormones, and anatomy. People are most often assigned male or female at birth based on their external anatomy; some people do not fit into that sex binary and are intersex.Gender describes a person’s internal sense of self as a woman, man, nonbinary person, or another gender, and the associated social and cultural ideas about roles, behaviors, expressions, and characteristics.Research studies sometimes don’t use the terminology in this way. For example, terms that describe gender (“woman,” “man”) may be used when terms for sex (“female,” “male”) are more appropriate.To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and gender are related concepts, but they are not the same.
Research studies sometimes don’t use the terminology in this way. For example, terms that describe gender (“woman,” “man”) may be used when terms for sex (“female,” “male”) are more appropriate.
To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
How ADHD Differs in Females
While females with ADHD can fall anywhere within this spectrum, they aremore often diagnosedwith predominantly inattentive type ADHD instead of the hyperactive-impulsive type more often seen in males. There are several physiological and psychological theories for why this is.
Sociocultural issues can further complicate ADHD symptoms in females, in part because social expectations about girls are often different than expectations of boys.For instance, “Girls seem compelled to get their schoolwork done because our culture encourages them to be more socially conscious. They want to please more than boys, and they’re expected to do well in school.”
A girl with undiagnosed ADHD might do fine in elementary school but then begin to have trouble in middle and high school when demands increase. As such, research studies have found girls score lower than boys on measures of mental well-being, self-esteem, and relationship with parents. These changes can lead to seeking validation through risky behavior that, for example, increases the likelihood of adolescent pregnancy in girls with ADHD.
Depression and anxietyare also more common in females with ADHD because girls are commonly taught to accept their feelings rather than act on them aggressively, as boys often do. This tendency can lead to a focus on anxiety and depression and a misdiagnosis of the underlying ADHD.
Who Gets ADHD More?Although ADHD is commonly thought to affect males more than females, emerging research suggests that ADHD is underdiagnosed in females (in part because inattention is less disruptive than hyperactivity and impulsivity). If so, the rate of ADHD among females may be closer to males than previously thought.
Who Gets ADHD More?
Although ADHD is commonly thought to affect males more than females, emerging research suggests that ADHD is underdiagnosed in females (in part because inattention is less disruptive than hyperactivity and impulsivity). If so, the rate of ADHD among females may be closer to males than previously thought.
Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in Females
Although ADHD characteristically starts in childhood and often continues into adulthood, it can present differently at different stages in a female’s life.
While predominantly inattentive type ADHD is more common in females, it is also possible to have predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type ADHD or combined type ADHD.
ADHD Symptoms in Girls
Symptoms of hyperactive-impulsive ADHD in girls may include:
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Girls with ADHD are more likely than boys with ADHD to have difficult interpersonal relationships, particularly during puberty when their behaviors may be construed as being difficult, conceited, or disinterested.They also may be more sexually active at an early age.
While girls with ADHD often succeed academically, they tend to experience higher levels of stress and feel inferior to their peers.
ADHD Symptoms in Women
For women with ADHD, coping strategies used to compensate during childhood may be harder to maintain or of little use in college, the workplace, or other adult settings.
Women with inattentive ADHD often manifest with symptoms like:
While hyperactive and impulsive symptoms are less common in females with ADHD, they can manifest with behaviors like:
ADHD and Depression
ADHD and Memory Loss
Treating ADHD in Females
Girls and women with ADHD who are nottreatedcan experience negative consequences, such as poor academic performance, behavioral problems, difficulty with interpersonal relationships such as friends or partners, low self-esteem, problems with self-image, and co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety and depression.It is important to seek the proper diagnosis and course of treatment. ADHD is treated the same in females as males, typically with a combination of medications and psychotherapy.
Medications
Medication is typically the first line of treatment for ADHD for both females and males. These include stimulants and non-stimulants that treat the symptoms of ADHD in different ways.
Stimulant medicationsare more commonly prescribed and generally more effective. Options include:
Non-stimulant medicationsare typically used when stimulants fail to improve relief or cannot be tolerated. These include:
Research suggests that females with ADHD are less likely to be prescribed medication for ADHD than males with ADHD. This is, in part, because the symptoms are often missed or attributed to things likepremenstrualchanges, which can amplify ADHD traits.
Therapy
In addition to medication, ADHD-focused therapies can address a broad range of issues, such as self-esteem, interpersonal and family relationships, stress, and life management skills.
Depending on the signs and symptoms of ADHD, psychotherapy may involve:
The treatment for ADHD can start as soon as a diagnosis of ADHD is received, even in young children. Psychotherapy and building coping tools in a group or one-on-one setting can still be helpful to a child who isn’t on medication.
Summary
ADHD often manifests differently in females than in males. 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.
Although the treatment of ADHD can be similar for females as males, females seem to be prescribed ADHD drugs less frequently because their symptoms are either missed or misdiagnosed (or because some people consider ADHD a predominantly male disease).
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Antoniou E, Rigas N, Orovou E, Papatrechas A, Sarella A.ADHD symptoms in females of childhood, adolescent, reproductive and menopause period.Mater Sociomed.2021 Jun;33(2):114–8. doi:10.5455/msm.2021.33.114-118American Psychiatric Association.What is ADHD?Yagi S, Galea AM.Sex differences in hippocampal cognition and neurogenesis.Neuropsychopharmacology.2019 Jan;44(1):200–13. doi:10.1038/s41386-018-0208-4Attitude.ADHD in Females: The Symptoms That Are Ignored in GirlsQuinn PO, Madhoo M.A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls: uncovering this hidden diagnosis.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2014;16(3).doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01596Rosch KS, Mostofsky SH, Nebel MB.ADHD-related sex differences in fronto-subcortical intrinsic functional connectivity and associations with delay discounting.J Neurodev Disord. 2018 Dec 13;10(1):34. doi:10.1186/s11689-018-9254-9.Kok FM, Groen Y, Fuermaier ABM, Tucha O.Problematic peer functioning in girls with ADHD: a systematic literature review.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(11):e0165119. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0165119Holthe MEG, Langvik E.The strives, struggles, and successes of women diagnosed with ADHD as adults.SAGE Open. 2017;7(1):215824401770179. doi:10.1177/2158244017701799Kok FM, Groen Y, Fuermaier ABM, Tucha O.The female side of pharmacotherapy for ADHD—a systematic literature review.PLoS ONE. 2020;15(9):e0239257. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0239257
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Antoniou E, Rigas N, Orovou E, Papatrechas A, Sarella A.ADHD symptoms in females of childhood, adolescent, reproductive and menopause period.Mater Sociomed.2021 Jun;33(2):114–8. doi:10.5455/msm.2021.33.114-118American Psychiatric Association.What is ADHD?Yagi S, Galea AM.Sex differences in hippocampal cognition and neurogenesis.Neuropsychopharmacology.2019 Jan;44(1):200–13. doi:10.1038/s41386-018-0208-4Attitude.ADHD in Females: The Symptoms That Are Ignored in GirlsQuinn PO, Madhoo M.A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls: uncovering this hidden diagnosis.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2014;16(3).doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01596Rosch KS, Mostofsky SH, Nebel MB.ADHD-related sex differences in fronto-subcortical intrinsic functional connectivity and associations with delay discounting.J Neurodev Disord. 2018 Dec 13;10(1):34. doi:10.1186/s11689-018-9254-9.Kok FM, Groen Y, Fuermaier ABM, Tucha O.Problematic peer functioning in girls with ADHD: a systematic literature review.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(11):e0165119. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0165119Holthe MEG, Langvik E.The strives, struggles, and successes of women diagnosed with ADHD as adults.SAGE Open. 2017;7(1):215824401770179. doi:10.1177/2158244017701799Kok FM, Groen Y, Fuermaier ABM, Tucha O.The female side of pharmacotherapy for ADHD—a systematic literature review.PLoS ONE. 2020;15(9):e0239257. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0239257
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Antoniou E, Rigas N, Orovou E, Papatrechas A, Sarella A.ADHD symptoms in females of childhood, adolescent, reproductive and menopause period.Mater Sociomed.2021 Jun;33(2):114–8. doi:10.5455/msm.2021.33.114-118American Psychiatric Association.What is ADHD?Yagi S, Galea AM.Sex differences in hippocampal cognition and neurogenesis.Neuropsychopharmacology.2019 Jan;44(1):200–13. doi:10.1038/s41386-018-0208-4Attitude.ADHD in Females: The Symptoms That Are Ignored in GirlsQuinn PO, Madhoo M.A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls: uncovering this hidden diagnosis.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2014;16(3).doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01596Rosch KS, Mostofsky SH, Nebel MB.ADHD-related sex differences in fronto-subcortical intrinsic functional connectivity and associations with delay discounting.J Neurodev Disord. 2018 Dec 13;10(1):34. doi:10.1186/s11689-018-9254-9.Kok FM, Groen Y, Fuermaier ABM, Tucha O.Problematic peer functioning in girls with ADHD: a systematic literature review.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(11):e0165119. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0165119Holthe MEG, Langvik E.The strives, struggles, and successes of women diagnosed with ADHD as adults.SAGE Open. 2017;7(1):215824401770179. doi:10.1177/2158244017701799Kok FM, Groen Y, Fuermaier ABM, Tucha O.The female side of pharmacotherapy for ADHD—a systematic literature review.PLoS ONE. 2020;15(9):e0239257. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0239257
Antoniou E, Rigas N, Orovou E, Papatrechas A, Sarella A.ADHD symptoms in females of childhood, adolescent, reproductive and menopause period.Mater Sociomed.2021 Jun;33(2):114–8. doi:10.5455/msm.2021.33.114-118
American Psychiatric Association.What is ADHD?
Yagi S, Galea AM.Sex differences in hippocampal cognition and neurogenesis.Neuropsychopharmacology.2019 Jan;44(1):200–13. doi:10.1038/s41386-018-0208-4
Attitude.ADHD in Females: The Symptoms That Are Ignored in Girls
Quinn PO, Madhoo M.A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls: uncovering this hidden diagnosis.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2014;16(3).doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01596
Rosch KS, Mostofsky SH, Nebel MB.ADHD-related sex differences in fronto-subcortical intrinsic functional connectivity and associations with delay discounting.J Neurodev Disord. 2018 Dec 13;10(1):34. doi:10.1186/s11689-018-9254-9.
Kok FM, Groen Y, Fuermaier ABM, Tucha O.Problematic peer functioning in girls with ADHD: a systematic literature review.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(11):e0165119. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0165119
Holthe MEG, Langvik E.The strives, struggles, and successes of women diagnosed with ADHD as adults.SAGE Open. 2017;7(1):215824401770179. doi:10.1177/2158244017701799
Kok FM, Groen Y, Fuermaier ABM, Tucha O.The female side of pharmacotherapy for ADHD—a systematic literature review.PLoS ONE. 2020;15(9):e0239257. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0239257
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