Who Else Has ADHD?

ADHD in Adults and Gender

ADHD symptoms can be different in men and women and may contribute to women not getting the correct ADHD diagnosis.¹¹ A consensus review of the literature by UK ADHD specialists and an analysis of a US population database that examined how to improve identifying and treating ADHD in women and girls found the following:

• While ADHD is more often diagnosed in boys than in girls, in adults the rates are similar in men and women.^{11, 12}
• Women are more likely to show symptoms of inattention, while men may be more impulsive or hyperactive. This is true for both children and adults.^{11, 13, 14}
• Women tend to have anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, while men tend to exhibit impulse control disorders or behavioral disorders.¹¹
• The types of risky behaviors associated with ADHD, for example, substance abuse, are similar for men and women.¹⁵