A doctor has shared the signs of ADHD in women and how it can often go undiagnosed until later in life
A doctor has shared the signs he commonly spots in women with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The expert discussed the signs you might recognise as a woman with ADHD – but why they’re “often missed” by medical professionals.
Dr Ali Ajaz, a consultant psychiatrist, regularly imparts information and guidance to his over 97.6k followers on TikTok. In a recent video, he outlined five signs that indicated ADHD in women and discussed why women often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed instead.
ADHD is a behavioural condition. The NHS states that people with ADHD may seem restless, find it difficult to focus and behave impulsively.
Symptoms of ADHD usually become apparent at a young age and can become more noticeable when a child’s circumstances alter, such as starting school. Occasionally, ADHD may not be identified during childhood, resulting in a diagnosis later in adulthood.
A recent clip from Dr Ajaz was captioned: “Female ADHD” and text over the video read: “Why doctors miss female ADHD.” The post racked up thousands of views and a number of likes from followers.
In the video, the doctor said: “Why ADHD looks different in women and why most doctors miss it. Hi, I’m Doctor Ali Ajaz, consultant psychiatrist, and let’s talk about why ADHD often goes undiagnosed in women until their thirties or forties.
“We all know the stereotypical ADHD image is of a hyperactive young boy disrupting class, but here’s what that picture misses. In women, ADHD often shows up as follows.
“Number one – being called chatty, scatty, or overly emotional rather than hyperactive. Number two – masking symptoms much better than men, through perfectionism and overachieving.
“Number three -struggling silently with organisation while maintaining a put together appearance. Number four – internalising hyperactivity as racing thoughts, rather than physical restlessness. And number five – are much more prone to burning out from trying to maintain multiple roles perfectly.”
The doctor added: “This is why women often get misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression first. As a psychiatrist who’s worked with many women with ADHD, I see these patterns regularly.
“Understanding these differences is crucial for proper assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.”
Types of ADHD
- Predominantly inattentive: You have trouble with attention, focus, and organisation.
- Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive: You may feel restless or act without thinking.
- Combined: You have parts of the two other types.
ADHD in women
The specialists at Understood.org said: “Girls and women mostly have the inattentive type of ADHD. Being inattentive doesn’t stand out like being hyperactive and impulsive does. Those symptoms are more common in boys and men. Inattentive girls and women are more likely to be overlooked or misdiagnosed.”
They further noted that women are “less likely than men to have hyperactivity as a symptom”, which contributes to their reduced diagnosis rates. Your symptoms dictate which type or ‘presentation’ of ADHD you possess. Mental health professionals examine the primary symptoms when making a diagnosis.