The rise in late ADHD diagnoses amongst women explained

In recent years, there have been many high profile women who have hit the headlines after receiving a diagnosis for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) later in life. The likes of singer Lily Allen, actress Gwyneth Paltrow and director Greta Gerwig have all spoken openly about how receiving their formal diagnoses has provided clarity and validation, and helped them to understand themselves and the world around them much better.

But why did Lily, Gwyneth and Greta, and so many women like them, have to wait so long to get their diagnosis? It’s a historic problem and one that research is only now just beginning to answer…

What the research tells us

Recent research shows that on average, women with ADHD are diagnosed five years later than men. This significant delay is leading to worse clinical outcomes, including higher rates of depression and anxiety.

The research also indicates that females with ADHD show higher symptom severity, worse psychosocial functioning, and greater disability compared to males.

Five reasons more women are being diagnosed with ADHD later in life

1. A biased definition of ADHD: Until recently, ADHD has been associated with symptoms of hyperactivity. Stereotypically, people usually think of a boy who can’t sit still at school and distracts their classmates, therefore drawing attention from teachers and parents for their disruptive behaviour.
   On the other hand, we now know that ADHD in girls is more likely to present as inattentiveness, being easily distracted or frequently drifting into daydreams, and anxiety. This quieter, more subtle behaviour is much less likely to attract attention, and therefore symptoms can continue undetected for much longer.
2. The impact of masking: Many women and girls with ADHD develop coping mechanisms or mask their symptoms and their struggles in order to fit in.
3. The prevalence of misdiagnoses: For too many years, young women and girls who have reported their symptoms have been mislabelled lazy, anxious or depressed.
4. The effect of hormones: Perimenopause can often exacerbate symptoms of ADHD, making them harder to mask and easier to diagnose at this later stage in life.
5. The lack of research into women’s health: Historically, women’s health has been under-researched and under-funded, meaning significant gaps in medical knowledge relating to issues such as ADHD in women and girls is only now being put in the spotlight.

Times are changing

Thankfully, times are changing and we are now seeing a significant rise in the number of women and girls seeking a diagnosis for ADHD, not because it is more common, but because we now have a much clearer understanding of ADHD and how it can present itself in females.

In addition, we now have greater awareness amongst the general public, meaning women are now more likely to recognise the symptoms. Plus, there is now less stigma and greater acceptance of neurodiversity in general, which is enabling more women to consider pursuing a formal diagnosis.

Book an appointment

If you or someone you know suspects they may have ADHD and you would like to speak to a healthcare professional about pursuing a formal diagnosis, make an appointment at YourGP. You can choose a date and time that suits you via our simple online booking system, or you can email reception@your.gp. You can also call us on 0131 225 5656 or arrange a call back via our website.