UW Health Highlights ADHD Diagnosis Challenges for Women

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in women can be harder to diagnose because its symptoms can often be overlooked or misinterpreted for something else, states UW Health. ADHD affects about 7 million children and 15 million adults in America, and there have been many recent research findings that show the need for more information on how ADHD manifests itself in women as opposed to men.

For women already diagnosed with ADHD, peri-menopause may be even more challenging because the changes in hormones and sleep cycles will make it even more difficult to cope with existing symptoms. According to Dr. Stephanie Gorham, a physician at UW Health, coping women’s mechanisms used since childhood may start failing during this period, causing more problems with focusing, organizing, and performing daily tasks.

“A lot of times women are more chatty,” described Dr. Gorham. “They talk more than men with ADHD, they are distracted. Sometimes they have issues with time blindness. They can have hyperactivity, but most of the time they have issues with organization, focus, sometimes memory.”

Key Highlights:

• ADHD symptoms in women are often overlooked or mistaken for other conditions. study reveals
• Hormonal and sleep changes during perimenopause may worsen existing ADHD symptoms
• Medication, behavioral strategies and daily routines can help women manage ADHD

Even though ADHD symptoms chould manifest themselves before the age of 12 to fulfill the developmental onset criteria for diagnosis, many women rarerly have ever gotten a diagnosis when they were children. Women who display pronounced signs of perimenopause are better able to determine whether ADHD or some other underlying women’s health issues be involved through consulting a doctor. The personalised approach will enable to make certain choices concerning the treatment and medications..

In terms of treatment, she suggests the use of stimulant drugs as one of the most frequent ways to treat adults suffering from ADHD. Nonetheless, medication is not the only way to deal a sthere are other ways which might be used such as behavioral methods, time management, and organisational techniques. Use of technology could be another way to deal with ADHD as well. There are special applications that can help with organizing tasks, remind one about important things and assist with focusing.

Dr. Gorham adds on that ADHD diagnosis is not limited to psychiatry alone; general family medicine doctors can diagnose it in adults, although this varies depending on their interest. Given the fact that most cases of ADHD are often treated using stimulant drugs, some general practitioners may be hesitant about treatment. She clarifies that patients who think that they could be suffering from ADHD can consult a general practitioner regarding the same; however, this does not necessarily mean that a diagnosis and medication will be prescribed. Nonetheless, the general practitioner can analyze their symptoms and help them find appropriate treatment options for maintain their health and wellbeing.

Social media is also an additional source of information about ADHD. While such posts might help raise awareness, they do not provide a full story behind the problem, which could be explained by other factors as well. That is why, according to Dr. Gorham, it is necessary to turn to health professionals if one has doubts about having symptoms of ADHD.