What Are the Differences Between ADHD in Women vs Men?

It is estimated that around 1 in 20 people have this neurodivergent condition in adulthood. The reason for this is more knowledge of ADHD becoming available and the impact of the Covid lockdowns, changing routines and presenting new coping strategies.

Diagnosing ADHD can be tricky, especially with the long waiting lists for assessments.

How this looks in men vs women can be very different. For instance, research suggests that ADHD symptoms in women may not be the same as men’s, which is often regarded as the baseline for diagnoses. This can make the condition harder to spot and diagnose in women than in men.

In this article, we’ll explain the different ADHD symptoms in women vs men, as well as how ADHD can manifest differently in children.

What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, commonly known as ADHD, is a neurodiverse condition that can affect women, men, and children.

It’s common for both men and women with ADHD to struggle with mental skills, such as problem-solving, making plans, and regulating emotions. Though not the case for everyone, some people with ADHD may also experience:

• Impulsive behaviour.

• Mood swings.

• Emotional outbursts.

• Excessive talking.

• Difficulties concentrating.

• Impatience.

In terms of how these symptoms can manifest day-to-day, a person with ADHD may fidget in their seat or with their hands, find themselves needing to start a new task before finishing the one at hand, or struggle to keep track of their to-do-list.

What are the main differences between ADHD in women vs men?

The main difference between ADHD in women vs men is how the symptoms manifest. It’s important to be aware of the differences in ADHD in women vs men, as untreated ADHD in female adults can cause difficulties with relationships and increased levels of self-doubt.

Men are often diagnosed with ADHD earlier than women, but that doesn’t mean that ADHD is more common in males than females. Rather, it’s the difference in displays of ADHD that make the condition easier to spot in men. 

For example, it’s more common for men to show hyperactive-impulsive symptoms of ADHD. These symptoms typically include quite outward displays, that may be more noticeable to friends and family, as well as the person themselves. However, women often display inattentive symptoms that can be more internally felt through thoughts and feelings, meaning they may be harder to spot.

Additionally, studies show that symptoms of ADHD in women typically show up in early adolescence, around the age of puberty. For men, symptoms usually begin earlier during their childhood. This difference can often mean that women can be seen as ‘too late’ for ADHD and may receive a diagnosis of anxiety instead.

Read, below, for the most common differences between ADHD in women and men:

It’s important to keep in mind that while these are the more typical norms for ADHD in women and men, it’s not the case for everyone, and it’s still possible for men to have inattentive symptoms as well.

How does ADHD present in women?

As women are more likely to be an inattentive type, according to Attention Deficit Disorder Association, symptoms of ADHD in women are typically more subtle and harder to spot.

For example, signs of ADHD in women and girls often include:

• Shyness.
• Fatigue.
• Insomnia.
• Daydreaming.
• Feeling overwhelmed.
• Lack of motivation.
• Perfectionist tendencies.
• Person-centred repetitive behaviour – picking nails, pulling hair.

In adults, this may look like struggling to complete daily tasks, such as tidying up or going shopping. Instead, they might be distracted by their phone or the TV, knowing they have tasks to complete but struggling with the motivation to do so.

Some women may also ‘mask’ their symptoms – meaning they try to hide them from those around them - in an attempt to follow social norms or expectations, according to the NHS. This can often lead to women suffering burnout from masking their symptoms.

Additionally, there is some research to show that the menopause can worsen symptoms of ADHD in women. As hormone levels start to drop during the menopause, this can lead to a decrease in dopamine, which is usually already low in women with ADHD. As a result, those with ADHD may notice a lower mood, increased difficulties with symptoms, and anxiety.

How does ADHD present in men?

Men typically display the more ‘outward’ ADHD symptoms, veering more towards the hyperactive-impulsive and combined displays.

As a result, ADHD in men can be much easier to spot, with symptoms such as:

• Procrastination.
• Emotional outbursts.
• Poor time management.
• Excessive fidgeting.
• Difficulties concentrating.
• Defensive behaviours.

For example, men with ADHD may exhibit behaviours, such as leaving a meeting before it’s finished, talking over people, or struggling to wait patiently in a queue.

Does ADHD look different in children than in adults?

Children go through plenty of emotional and behavioural changes as they grow, so it can be difficult for them to notice if they need adult or professional intervention. As the adult caring for them, it’s useful to be aware of how ADHD looks in children, so you can step in and seek any help they may need on their behalf.

Symptoms of ADHD in children typically start before the age of 12, but they can sometimes start to show as early as 3 years old. While the symptoms are largely the same as ADHD in women and men, they are likely to display in different ways.

ADHD in children can often appear as everyday child-like behaviour. Things like struggling to finish chores, making seemingly thoughtless errors on their homework, or frequently losing track of items like pencil cases, homework, or toys are common.

For young girls with ADHD, you may notice they excel in their school work but find it hard to complete their . This is known as ‘transference of skills’, where someone can demonstrate a skill in one setting, but finds it difficult to do the same task in other environments. With young boys, they may over or under-react to certain situations or play quite loudly indoors.

But it’s once these behaviours appear consistently, are disrupting their development, and inhibiting their ability to socialise, that ADHD diagnoses might be worth looking into.

For example, the NHS recommends that you should see a GP if your child has:

• Shown symptoms for more than 6 months.
• Started showing symptoms before 12 years old.
• Display symptoms both at home and in school.
• Symptoms are starting to impact their school work

Once you’ve had a consultation, your GP may refer you to a for an initial assessment, as an ADHD diagnosis has to come from a Psychologist, Psychiatrist or a Specialist Nurse. Once a diagnosis has been received, your GP will be able to discuss management plans, so you know the best way to support your child.

How can Benenden Health help with ADHD and neurodiversity

Receiving a diagnosis of ADHD can be daunting, and you may feel confused as to what the best plan of action is. At Benenden Health, we’re here to help.

With our private healthcare*, you can access our Neurodiversity and Disability Advice Service advice from day one. Whether for you or a child who may have special needs, our team can help you navigate the information available for ADHD, better understand the roll of schools and GPs, as well as help guide you through the SEND process. 

If you’re struggling with the mental toll that ADHD can have, you can also access our 24/7 Mental Health helpline for immediate emotional support and signposting.

You can discover more about how to reduce your stress levels, as well as read up on other neurodiverse conditions like autism and dyspraxia, over on our Be Healthy hub.

This article has been supported by information from our partner Grace Consulting.

*Benenden Health is unable to fund the diagnosis for neuro-diverse conditions through our Private Diagnosis service.