Is ADHD different in women?
Yes. Women with ADHD often present a more internalizing profile (predominantly inattentive, anxious, low self-esteem) rather than an externalizing one (hyperactivity, impulsivity), which leads to underdiagnosis.
ADHD in women and girls is systematically underdiagnosed because the profile is often different from the "hyperactive boy" stereotype. Women and girls with ADHD tend to show:
More inattention and less visible hyperactivity (inattention is more internal and less disruptive to those around them).
More internalizing comorbidities: anxiety and depression are much more common in women with ADHD, and often those diagnoses come first, without the underlying ADHD ever being identified.
More intense masking: girls are often more socially motivated and better at compensating for and hiding their difficulties, which delays diagnosis but comes at a high cost (exhaustion, low self-esteem from "not being able to" do what looks easy for others).
Late diagnosis: most women with ADHD are diagnosed in adulthood, often after years of treatment for anxiety and depression that helps somewhat but never addresses the underlying issue.
The hormone estrogen interacts with the dopamine system, which means hormonal fluctuations (menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, menopause) can significantly affect ADHD symptoms.
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