Clinical researchers and healthcare providers report that girls and women with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) frequently experience different symptoms than boys, often leading to later diagnoses. Julia Schechter, co-director of the Duke Center for Girls and Women with ADHD, stated that while boys often display overt hyperactivity or impulsivo behaviors, girls are more likely to appear distracted or disorganized. Consequently, women are frequently diagnosed in adulthood after previously being treated for anxiety or depression.
Undiagnosed ADHD in women is associated with various health and social risks. According to Schechter, women with the condition experience higher rates of social relationship difficulties and self-harm compared to those without the diagnosis. Dr. Patricia Quinn, a developmental pediatrician, noted that impulsivity, sleep issues, and chronic stress related to unmanaged ADHD are linked to higher incidences of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
A 2025 study from the United Kingdom found that women with ADHD have a life expectancy nearly nine years shorter than their peers without the disorder, and two years shorter than men with the condition. Data analyzed by the nonprofit CHADD indicated that nearly 7 million women in the U.S. had an ADHD diagnosis as of 2023. While diagnostic rates for boys remain two to three times higher than for girls, the gender disparity in diagnosis decreases among adults.