ADHD in women is often missed and can carry distinct health risks
Researchers say attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can appear differently in women, helping explain why many are diagnosed only later in life.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is still often overlooked in women, even though researchers now say the condition can show up differently than it does in boys and men. That gap has left many women without a diagnosis until adulthood, according to NPR.
The reporting says the long-standing view of ADHD as mainly a childhood disorder in boys has shaped who gets identified and treated. Experts cited by NPR say that pattern has contributed to missed cases among girls, whose symptoms may be less disruptive or easier to dismiss.
The article also notes that delayed recognition can matter for health beyond attention and behaviour. Women with undiagnosed ADHD may face added risks because the condition can affect daily functioning, stress and access to care over time.
NPR's coverage places the issue in a broader shift in medical understanding, as clinicians and researchers pay more attention to how ADHD presents across sexes and ages.
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