From hyperactivity to impulsivity, the symptoms in females can be very different from male ones – making the condition harder to diagnose. Cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) seem to be rocketing – so much so that there is talk among medical professionals that it’s “the label of moment”. For decades, it has been seen as a “ male only disorder ”, but that is also changing fast.
The growing number of high-profile women who have gone public about their ADHD – the former Spice Girl Mel B, TV presenter Sue Perkins and the actress Sheridan Smith to name a few – coupled with a plethora of ADHD content across social media platforms, especially TikTok, have all prompted more women and girls to see it in themselves and seek help. Women are now being diagnosed at unprecedented rates. So what does ADHD look like in women – and why are we only recognising it now? What is it like having ADHD as a woman? “ADHD for both men and women is a developmental disorder with three groups of symptoms,” says Dr Sally Cubbin, a consultant psychiatrist and lead doctor for women with ADHD at UK Adult ADHD Network (UKAAN).
These symptoms are: Inattentiveness: Problems with concentration , organisation and planning; forgetfulness; losing things; putting tasks off; time blindness. Hyperactivity: Restlessness; fidgeting; difficulty sitting still especially in quiet, calm settings. Impulsivity: Acting and speaking without thinking; little or no sense of danger.
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