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ADHD Symptoms in Women

January 16th, 2026

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Statistics would lead you to believe that ADHD is significantly more prevalent in boys and men than it is in girls and women. However, over the past decade or so, research has shown us that this is simply not true. Instead, ADHD symptoms in women have, historically, been missed.

In today's day and age, we now have the necessary information to correctly diagnose more females, helping them get the proper support they need. So, why is ADHD so often missed in women? Is the condition actually different in women vs. men? And, if you’re a woman with ADHD, what should you know as you age and move through various life stages? Keep reading to learn more!

Key Points:

  • Gender bias and lack of awareness regarding ADHD symptoms in women often mean that the condition is overlooked or misdiagnosed.
  • Women can be more likely to internalize symptoms, potentially contributing to misdiagnosis or lack of diagnosis.
  • Hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman's life (e.g., during puberty, menstrual periods, perimenopause, or menopause) can affect ADHD symptoms, often making them worse.
  • Finding a provider versed in diagnosing and treating ADHD in women can be essential for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Why ADHD is Often Missed in Women

Until recently, public awareness surrounding ADHD was mostly focused on boys and men. Women are statistically more likely to get diagnosed at a later age. This is largely due to gender bias. Often, signs of ADHD in women are missed due to:

  • Misdiagnosis and comorbidities: Women with ADHD are more likely to get misdiagnosed or to be diagnosed and treated for a co-occurring condition first.[1] Some studies have found that girls with ADHD were more likely to be prescribed antidepressants before being treated for ADHD compared to boys.
  • Differences in symptom presentation: Women can be more likely to display certain inattention symptoms.[2] They might daydream, miss key parts of instructions, or struggle with organization, but may not be outwardly disruptive or experience stereotypical displays of hyperactivity. Since ADHD stereotypes often highlight young boys and men with hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms, this can mean that women and girls get overlooked.
  • Masking: Girls and women may put in great effort to overcompensate or hide ADHD symptoms. Many grow up feeling like their symptoms are personal failings, or like they “just need to work harder,” causing challenges like low self-esteem and anxiety.

A lack of diagnosis does not mean that the ADHD is “less severe.” In fact, it can have serious consequences: undiagnosed ADHD is associated with depression, drinking, eating disorders, greater interpersonal difficulties, and lower quality of life.[3]

Is ADHD Different in Men and Women?

Is ADHD different in men vs. women? It can be. Men are more likely to show externalized symptoms. Fidgeting, excessive talking, and disruptive behavior (e.g., blurting things out, running around when one is expected to remain seated) can be more common.

Women and girls, on the other hand, can be more prone to internalized symptoms. Inattentive ADHD symptoms (e.g., trouble focusing) may be overlooked by others. Even hyperactivity symptoms can be more internalized, showing up as anxiety or internalized restlessness.

Of course there are outliers. Some young girls with ADHD have more stereotypical displays of the disorder; they’re more likely to be diagnosed in childhood compared to women and girls with inattentive ADHD. However, the lack of awareness surrounding what ADHD symptoms in women can look like does a serious disservice to many.

ADHD Symptoms in Women

Although inattentive ADHD is the most common type of ADHD in women, they can still have any of the three types of ADHD: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, and combined type.

The different types of ADHD in women might look, well, different than they do in male counterparts. This isn’t always the case. But, it’s important to understand how the different types of ADHD in women could present outside of stereotypes.

Women with 5+ of the following symptoms (or 6+, if under age 17) may have inattentive ADHD:

  • You lose or misplace things often.
  • You have trouble staying focused or on-task.
  • You are prone to making errors or mistakes (e.g., accidentally overlooking parts of instructions).
  • You’re forgetful or absent-minded in daily life (e.g., you may forget to pay bills or miss appointments).
  • You avoid or dislike tedious tasks, such as paperwork or chores (many people with ADHD feel overwhelmed by the thought of these tasks).
  • You struggle to concentrate when people speak to you directly (e.g., you may zone out or seem as though your mind is elsewhere).
  • You have difficulty with organization (e.g., keeping a clean workspace or arranging multi-step tasks effectively).
  • You can start projects but have trouble following through and completing them.
  • You’re easily distracted, whether by things around you or your own thoughts.

Women with of the following symptoms (or 6+, if under age 17) may have hyperactive-impulsive ADHD:

  • You fidget often.
  • You feel restless often.
  • You feel the need to stand up or walk around often.
  • You talk excessively (can include “information dumping” and overexplaining).
  • You’re unusually active - others may have difficulty keeping up with your pace during activities.
  • You have trouble staying quiet - you might talk to yourself or make nonsensical phrases and sounds.
  • You blurt things out, interrupt others, or finish people's sentences, even if you do not mean to.
  • You find it difficult to be patient or wait your turn (e.g., in line at the store or when waiting to speak during conversations).
  • You can have trouble with social boundaries - for example, you might “butt into” activities or conversations without realizing it is rude to do so.

Those with a clinically significant number of symptoms in both areas may have combined-type ADHD. Many find that their ADHD symptoms change with time.

ADHD and Hormones

Women with ADHD can benefit from learning about how hormonal fluctuations can affect the condition. Changes in hormone levels can make ADHD symptoms worse for women of all ages.

One common example of this is how menstrual periods influence ADHD. During the luteal phase (lasting for about two weeks before your period starts), your ADHD might seem worse due to changes in estrogen and progesterone levels.

At this time, you might find that:

  • Your ADHD medication is not as effective.
  • You have increased difficulty performing tasks at work, school, or in other parts of life (e.g., running errands, cleaning) due to worsened ADHD symptoms.
  • Issues with sleep, fatigue, and brain fog are worse, further affecting ADHD management.
  • Emotional dysregulation, mood swings, irritability, or feelings of depression and anxiety increase.

Pregnancy, menopause, puberty, and anything else affecting hormone levels can also affect ADHD. Being aware of this is essential for women with ADHD; knowing your body, keeping track of hormonal shifts, and accommodating yourself by planning ahead and using extra self-care strategies for ADHD can help.

How Does ADHD Affect Older Women and Menopause?

When you go through perimenopause and menopause, estrogen levels drop. Similar to the effect people experience from changes in estrogen levels before their period, women going through or approaching menopause can have new or worsened ADHD symptoms for this reason. This is attributable to estrogen's influence on dopamine.[4]

If you notice that your ADHD symptoms are worse than they used to be, talk with your ADHD specialist. Changes in medication, lifestyle, and therapy–which can help you learn individualized strategies for addressing ADHD and related challenges–are some examples of what can help.

High-Functioning ADHD in Women

Perfectionism can, and often does, “mask” ADHD in women. In many cases, high-functioning ADHD is the result. High-functioning ADHD is an informal term that describes people with ADHD who succeed in work, school, and other parts of life despite internal struggles. If you have high-functioning ADHD, you might find that:

  • Your specific set of symptoms paints your experience. While you meet the criteria for ADHD, your specific combination of ADHD symptoms could mean that you experience significant challenges in some areas but thrive in others.
  • You have found ways to compensate for your symptoms. You’ve identified strategies and workarounds that make your symptoms and challenges less obvious.

Sometimes, women with high-functioning ADHD don’t get diagnosed until they reach a crisis point, frequently marked by intense anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, and exhaustion or burnout caused by the lengths they go to achieve goals.

Getting an accurate diagnosis doesn’t mean you won’t be successful. Quite the opposite! Treating high-functioning ADHD includes sustainable ways to manage symptoms without harming your mental health.

Diagnosing ADHD in Women

During the diagnostic process, you can expect to complete a written ADHD screening, as well as a verbal interview. Diagnostic criteria for ADHD are the same for people of all genders, but the way symptoms present can vary tremendously from person to person. Diagnosing ADHD in women involves:

  • History-taking: Personal history (including your medical history, when symptoms began, and how they have changed over time) is vital for an accurate diagnosis.
  • An in-depth look at symptoms: Especially for women with more “hidden” symptoms, it is essential that a provider fully understands all of the ways symptoms can present in women and how they might get overlooked.
  • Considering comorbidities and misdiagnosis: Many people with ADHD have at least one co-occurring disorder. If you have or might have another condition (e.g., an anxiety disorder) with overlapping symptoms, a provider will likely work with you to distinguish the two.

If you are unsure whether you could benefit from a clinical consultation with a specialist or not, feel free to take our online ADHD test. This assessment will help guide you in the right direction and provide you with next steps.

If you’re currently looking for the right mental health provider to complete your evaluation, keep in mind it can be helpful to ask specific questions like, “Are you versed in diagnosing ADHD in adult women?” That way, you can gauge their experience.

Consider seeking a second opinion if you’ve had a previous ADHD evaluation but feel the provider missed something or would like another professional’s input.

Specialized ADHD Treatment & Testing in Chicago

It is essential that women are able to find ADHD specialists who truly understand ADHD symptoms in women, including how to diagnose and manage them with care. Clarity Clinic provides expert ADHD treatment and testing in Chicago.

Our extensive team of psychiatrists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, psychologists, and therapists are highly experienced in diagnosing and treating ADHD women and girls.

We offer convenient online appointments to fit with any schedule, as well as in-person appointments at our various clinics located throughout the Chicagoland area (Loop, River North, Lakeview Belmont, Lakeview Broadway, Evanston, Arlington Heights).

To find compassionate ADHD care in-person or online, give us a call at (312) 815-9660 or click the button below to find a provider and book a consultation.

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Related Readings:

ADHD In Women FAQs

References

[1] Attoe, D. E., & Climie, E. A. (2023, May). Miss. Diagnosis: A Systematic Review of ADHD in Adult Women. Journal of attention disorders. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10173330/

[2] Williams T;Horstmann L;Kayani L;Lim AXH;Russell A;Ford T;John A;Sayal K;Thapar A;Langley K;Martin J; (n.d.). An item-level systematic review of the presentation of ADHD in females. Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39952337/

[3] French, B., Daley, D., Groom, M., & Cassidy, S. (2023, October). Risks associated with undiagnosed ADHD and/or autism: A mixed-method systematic review. Journal of attention disorders. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10498662/

[4] Osianlis, E., Thomas, E. H. X., Jenkins, L. M., & Gurvich, C. (2025, July). ADHD and sex hormones in females: A systematic review. Journal of attention disorders. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12145478/

Additional Sources:

Ullman, E. (2025, June 11). The hidden gap: Understanding gender disparities in ADHD diagnosis. ADHD Advisor. https://www.adhdadvisor.org/learn/adhd-diagnosis-disparity

Pavan
Written byPavan Prasad, MD

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