Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can cause different symptoms in females than in males. Unlike males who tend to have higher rates of hyperactivity and impulsivity, females with ADHD are more prone to inattention. This includes difficulty organizing or finishing tasks, following instructions, or paying attention to details.

The symptoms of ADHD can also differ in girls and women and may only be noticed in later life when there are problems at work or home, or in relationships.

This article explains the cause of ADHD in females as well as the symptoms seen in girls and women. It also explores the various treatment options for this common neurodevelopmental disorder.

How ADHD Differs in Females

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by excessive amounts of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Gender Definitions

For the purpose of this article, “female” refers to people with vaginas and “male” refers to people with penises irrespective of the gender or genders they identify with. The gendered terms in this article are the same terms used in the reference source.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders issued by the American Psychiatric Association, there are three types of ADHD:

  • Predominantly inattentive typePredominantly hyperactive-impulsive typeCombined type (where both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms are present)

While females with ADHD can fall anywhere within this spectrum, they are more often diagnosed with predominantly inattentive type ADHD. There are several physiological and psychological theories for why this is.

It may be due in part to the structure of the female brain in which the hippocampus is generally larger than it is in males. The hippocampus plays a major role in learning and memory and is vulnerable to injury or impairment by any number of substances or stimuli.

Compared to males, the hippocampus of females is populated with more estrogen receptors. These are cellular triggers that are activated by the female hormone estrogen. This is important because hormone fluctuations that occur during a woman’s can life dramatically affect brain functions and may contribute to the onset of ADHD symptoms.

Sociocultural issues can further complicate ADHD symptoms in females. These include feelings of low self-esteem and underachievement that commonly stem from childhood but can persist well into adulthood. Because of this, inattentive symptoms may go unnoticed, in part because expectations in girls are often different than expectations in boys.

Depression and anxiety are also more common in females with ADHD because girls are commonly taught to internalize their feelings rather than acting out as boys. These gender expectations can have as much of an impact on females with ADHD as the disease itself.

Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in Females

Although ADHD characteristically starts in childhood and often continues into adulthood, it can present differently at different stages in a female’s life.

Who Gets ADHD More?

Although ADHD is commonly thought to affect males more than females, emerging research suggests that ADHD is underdiagnosed in females (in part because inattention is less disruptive than hyperactivity and impulsivity). If so, the rate of ADHD between females and males may be closer than previously thought.

While predominantly inattentive type ADHD is more common in females, it is also possible to have predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type ADHD or combined type ADHD.

ADHD Symptoms in Girls

Symptoms of inattentive ADHD can vary by the setting and development age of a child. For girls with inattentive ADHD, this may manifest with behaviors such as:

  • Not paying close attention to detailsMaking careless mistakes in schoolworkTrouble staying focusedBeing easily distractedBeing disorganized or messyForgetting routine tasks, like house choresAppears not to be listening when spoken toNot following through on instructionsDifficulty organizing and completing tasksFailing to meet deadlinesAvoiding or disliking tasks that require sustained concentrationFrequently losing things like books, keys, or school papers

Symptoms of hyperactive-impulsive ADHD in girls may include:

  • Fidgeting constantlyDifficulty staying seatedTalking excessivelyDifficulty playing quietlyDifficulty waiting their turn, such as in lineInterrupting or blurting out responsesActing or speaking without thinkingTrouble keeping on one topicMaking and losing friends quickly

Girls with ADHD are more likely than boys with ADHD to have difficult interpersonal relationships, particularly during puberty when their behaviors may be construed as being difficult, conceited, or disinterested.

Click Play to Learn All About Fidgeting and What Causes It

This video has been medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD

While girls with ADHD often succeed academically, they tend to experience higher levels of stress and feel inferior to their peers.

As a result, girls with ADHD may overcompensate and become sexually active at a younger age or remain in otherwise unhealthy relationships.

ADHD Symptoms in Women

For women with ADHD, symptoms of inattention are often more noticeable in a structured environment, such as college or the workplace. Coping strategies used to compensate in grade school may be harder to maintain in these settings.

Women with inattentive ADHD often manifest with symptoms like:

  • Being repeatedly called out on careless mistakesInability to multi-task or manage multiple relationshipsMissing deadlinesProcrastinating and rushing to complete tasks at the last minute"Spacing out" at meetings or in conversationDifficulty keeping organized or tidy at school, home, or workFrequently misplacing or losing things, such as your phone or glassesFrequently missing appointments or forgetting to return callsTrouble making decisions or building manageable strategies

While hyperactive and impulsive symptoms are less common in females with ADHD, they can manifest with behaviors like:

  • Restlessness and fidgetingJumping from one topic or task to the nextTalking excessivelyInterrupting frequently or talking over peopleDifficulty sitting still or relaxing with othersTrouble maintaining friendships

Treating ADHD in Females

ADHD is treated the same in females as males, typically with a combination of medications and psychotherapy.

ADHD and Depression

Females with ADHD tend to have a harder time coping at work, school, or home and feel a general lack of control over situations. These internalized feelings can manifest with symptoms of depression, including headaches, stomach aches, and sleep problems. Even so, depression is often masked by hyperactive behaviors and can remain undiagnosed.

Medications

Medication is typically the first line of treatment for ADHD whether you are female or male. These include stimulants and non-stimulants that treat the symptoms of ADHD in different ways.

Stimulant medications are more commonly prescribed and generally more effective. Options include:

  • Non-amphetamines, such as Concerta (methylphenidate) and Focalin (dexmethylphenidate)
  • Amphetamines, such as Adderall (dextroamphetamine)

Non-stimulant medications are typically used when stimulants fail to improve relief or cannot be tolerated. These include:

  • Strattera (atomoxetine)Kapvay (clonidine HCL)Tenex (guanfacine)

Therapy

In addition to medication, ADHD-focused therapies can address a broad range of issues, such as self-esteem, interpersonal and family relationships, stress, and life management skills.

Research suggests that females with ADHD are less likely to be prescribed medication for ADHD than males with ADHD—in part because the symptoms are often missed or attributed to things like menopause or premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Depending on the signs and symptoms of ADHD, psychotherapy may involve:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This form of therapy focuses on identifying and changing negative thoughts and behaviors. It can help improve impulse control and self-regulation. in recent years, CBT programs have been developed specifically for adults with ADHD.
  • Neurocognitive psychotherapy: This combines aspects of CBT with therapeutic practices designed to sustain attention and concentration for prolonged periods of time.
  • Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT): This is a type of CBT aimed at increasing mindfulness, self-acceptance, and self-esteem through one-on-one or group talk.

The treatment for ADHD should start as soon as a diagnosis of ADHD is received, even in young children.

Summary

ADHD often manifests differently in females than in males. Girls and women are more likely to experience symptoms of inattention rather than hyperactivity or impulsiveness.

Females with ADHD are also more vulnerable to depression and anxiety and tend to be diagnosed later because their symptoms are typically less disruptive.

Although the treatment of ADHD is the same for females as males, females are prescribed ADHD drugs less frequently because their symptoms are either missed or misdiagnosed (or because some people consider ADHD a predominantly male disease).

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What triggers ADHD?
  • The exact cause of ADHD isn’t known, but researchers believe ADHD is likely a result of a combination of factors, including genetics and environmental influences.
  • What happens if you leave ADHD untreated?
  • Girls and women with ADHD who are not properly diagnosed and treated can experience negative consequences, such as poor academic performance, behavioral problems, low self-esteem, problems with self-image, and co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety and depression.
  • Learn More:
  • Risks of Untreated ADHD in Adults
  • What are differences between ADHD in men and women?
  • ADHD can manifest differently in girls and women than in boys and men. One significant difference is that girls and women are more likely to experience inattentive-type ADHD instead of hyperactive/impulsive type.
  • Learn More:
  • ADHD Symptoms in Boys and Girls
  • Can ADHD be cured?
  • ADHD cannot be cured, but it can be managed. ADHD can diminish after childhood, but most people who experience ADHD in childhood will continue to experience at least some degree of symptoms into adulthood.
  • Is ADHD genetic?
  • There is evidence to suggest that genetics are involved with ADHD. Three out of four children with ADHD have a relative who has ADHD.

The exact cause of ADHD isn’t known, but researchers believe ADHD is likely a result of a combination of factors, including genetics and environmental influences.

Girls and women with ADHD who are not properly diagnosed and treated can experience negative consequences, such as poor academic performance, behavioral problems, low self-esteem, problems with self-image, and co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety and depression.

ADHD can manifest differently in girls and women than in boys and men. One significant difference is that girls and women are more likely to experience inattentive-type ADHD instead of hyperactive/impulsive type.

ADHD cannot be cured, but it can be managed. ADHD can diminish after childhood, but most people who experience ADHD in childhood will continue to experience at least some degree of symptoms into adulthood.

There is evidence to suggest that genetics are involved with ADHD. Three out of four children with ADHD have a relative who has ADHD.