ADHD is NOT a Boy's Disorder - ADHD Myths & Facts

MYTH: Only boys have ADHD.

FACT: Boys are Diagnosed 2-3 times as often as girls, however 4.2% of girls have received a diagnosis of ADHD at some point in their life.

When ADHD was studied in the late 1700’s, it was studied in white, hyperactive school-aged boys. While research has increased greatly concerning girls and women, ADHD is often still perceived as a disorder of boyhood centuries later. Boys are diagnosed 2-3 times as often as girls, and are more likely to be diagnosed early in life. 

A landmark study by the National Institute for Mental Health in 2011 showed that 4.2% of females have received a diagnosis of ADHD at some point in their life. Researchers are looking into various other factors that play a role for girls and women with ADHD such as gender bias, hormonal fluctuations and symptoms that present differently.

Women who weren’t diagnosed with ADHD as children are typically 36-38 years old when they learn they have the disorder, states Dr. Patricia Quinn, Director of the National Center for Girls and Women with ADHD. Before that time, they are likely to be diagnosed with depression or anxiety. Though these two conditions often coexist with ADHD, these diagnoses don’t get to the root of the issue, says Quinn.

“It is also a myth that all people with ADHD are hyperactive.”

“ADHD affects males and females, but research suggests an increased prevalence in males. These discrepancies may be due to differences in how ADHD manifests, referral bias, missed diagnoses and delays in diagnosis.”

- Rachel Tee-Melegrito

Why are girls and women slower to get diagnosed?

Gender Bias

Boys are more frequently referred for services even if their symptoms were presenting in exactly the same way as females. Doctors prescribe far less medications to females than males. Boys who are hyperactive are more frequently chosen for research studies, making the findings more characteristic of boys than girls.

The Myth that Girls and Women Don’t Get ADHD

The symptoms of ADHD tend to be less visible in females. A 2018 study revealed that females are more likely to show an increase in symptoms in early adolescence following the release of estrogen, compared with males who showed more hyperactive symptoms in childhood.

Focusing on the Co-morbidities

Another 2018 study showed that the ADHD is more likely to manifest or be diagnosed as anxiety or depression in females. This is due in part to the fact that girls and women internalize or mask behaviors compared to boys who display these behaviors more outwardly.

Diagnostic Tools Favoring Males

In 1980, new criteria for diagnosis allowed for the possibility of inattention without hyperactivity, finally making it possible to diagnose inattentive girls whose behaviors did not resemble boys. Despite this revision, diagnostic criteria still tended to be more in keeping with behaviors seen in males.

The most recent Diagnostic Manual, the DSM 5, raised the age of onset for ADHD to 12 years old. This made a big difference for girls in getting a diagnosis, as many female symptoms start to occur after puberty.

Girls and Women Tend to be Diagnosed with Inattentive ADHD

A 2016 study showed that girls and women had more severe symptoms of inattention than males, but also better coping strategies.

A 2019 Study also revealed that different symptoms were apparent more in girls than boys with ADHD. Parents and teachers reported that girls had more attention problems and boys had more impulsivity problems.

A 2020 study noted that females were more likely to be inattentive and that males were more likely to have combined symptoms, but higher rates of impulsivity and hyperactivity.

“ADHD affects both males and females. Referral bias, how symptoms manifest, the effects of hormonal changes and the difference in co-morbidity patterns contribute to a lack of or delayed treatment.”

- Ellen Littman, PsyD.

ADHD affects people of all ages, genders and races. Girls and women can be diagnosed with ADHD as well as males. Knowing the true facts regarding ADHD creates awareness and brings hope to those who are struggling. 

Looking for help navigating your life with ADHD? Schedule a FREE consultation with an ADHD coach!

Resources

• Only Boys Have ADHD- Michelle Frank, PsyD, Myths and Facts, http://adhdawarenessmonth.org 

• Why ADHD is More Common in Boys than Girls- Joanna Martin, http://theconversation.com 

• ADHD in Women and Girls: Why Female Symptoms Slip Through Diagnostic Cracks- Stephen Hinshaw, PhD, Ellen Litmann, PhD, Andrea Chronis-Tuscano, PhD. http://additudemag.com

• The Gender Myths (or “Only Boys Have ADHD”) – Ellen Littman, PhD https://chadd.org 

• How ADHD Differs in Males and Females - Rachel Tee-Melegrito, http://medicalnewstoday.com