How To Know If You Have Attention Deficit Disorder – ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is a developmental brain condition that typically causes symptoms of inattention in women, although symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity are still possible. Research also suggests that the condition is less common in women.
There are three subtypes of ADHD, hyperactive/impulsive, inattentive, and mixed. In girls and women, ADHD is less likely to cause hyperactive/impulsive-type symptoms.
How To Know If You Have Attention Deficit Disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects how different brain regions develop and work together. ADHD starts in childhood, but most people don’t get the diagnosis until they are teenagers or adults.
Signs And Symptoms Of Adhd
The condition is likely to affect people differently depending on sex. Research shows ADHD rates are higher in men and in individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB). However, there is evidence that there are more women and men with ADHD at birth (AFAB) than previously thought.
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The symptoms of ADHD revolve around a problem called executive dysfunction. Executive functions help you manage focus, concentration, emotional regulation, impulse control, and self-motivation.
There are three subtypes of ADHD: inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, and mixed. The subtype depends on what symptoms you have. The inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive subtypes have nine traits each. To have the subtype, you must have at least six symptoms for at least six months. A mixed subtype requires six symptoms from each subtype (ie at least 12 total symptoms) over six months.
Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis And Treatments
Females do not have hyperactive/impulsive traits. That means they are less likely to have hyperactive/impulsive or mixed subtypes.
Inattention-type symptoms interfere with work or school work and social relationships. To have the inattentive subtype of ADHD, you must have at least six of the following criteria for at least six months.
Hyperactive/impulsive-type symptoms can interfere with your relationships, work, schoolwork habits, and more. Women are less likely to have these symptoms, but they are still possible.
To have the hyperactive/impulsive subtype of ADHD, you must have at least six of the following, lasting for six months.
Signs And Symptoms Of Adhd In Children And Adults
Estimates of how ADHD affects people vary based on their sex. According to most estimates, the male-to-female* ratio in childhood is 2 to 1. However, some studies estimate the ratio to be as high as 17 to 1. In adulthood, rates become more similar as women are more likely to receive this diagnosis as adults.
Although research confirms that the condition is more common in boys and men, there is also evidence that it is commonly underdiagnosed in women. Researchers suspect that several factors contribute to this disparity.
*Note: Research studies do not use all terminology in the same way. Some use male/female to refer to sex, while others use the same words to refer to gender. To reduce confusion, “man” here refers to boys and men/people AMAB and “woman” here refers to women/people AFAB. These terms are all the same, explained above throughout this article.
Experts don’t fully understand why or how ADHD happens to someone. However, they do know that there is a strong genetic link to ADHD. This means that you are more likely to develop ADHD if at least one of your parents has ADHD. If you have ADHD, your children are more likely to develop it too.
Adhd In Women: Signs And Symptoms
People with ADHD are neurodivergent. That means their brains develop and function differently than neurotypical people (meaning their brains develop and function as expected).
Researchers continue to search for an explanation of why and how brain developmental differences cause ADHD. There is evidence that this may involve differences in brain structure, chemistry, or both. Researchers suspect that sex-based hormones or traits may influence ADHD and its symptoms. That is why some symptoms are more common in boys and men.
A health care provider — usually a psychologist or psychiatrist — can diagnose ADHD in you or your child. This process usually involves asking questions about current and past symptoms. Providers also use special questionnaires designed to help diagnose ADHD. There are no laboratory or medical tests that can help diagnose ADHD.
ADHD is not curable, but it is treatable. Medications are the main form of treatment. Different types of psychotherapy are also very common. Treatment strategies can help children and adults with ADHD learn how to adapt or cope with the effects of the condition. Therapy can also help with other mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression, which are common in addition to ADHD.
Depression Vs Adhd
There are a few types of medication that can treat ADHD. These are drugs that affect the levels of certain neurotransmitters, which are chemicals your brain uses for communication.
Possible complications and side effects from ADHD medications depend on many factors, especially the medication(s) you take. Your health care provider is the best person to tell you more about the side effects or problems you may experience and what you can do about them.
One side effect you may want to watch for with stimulant medications is decreased appetite. It is common for these medications to make you feel less hungry, which can be a concern when a person also has an eating disorder. Eating disorders are also more common in women than in boys and men. If you notice this side effect or are concerned about it, you should talk to your child’s pediatrician or your health care provider.
ADHD happens unpredictably and for reasons that experts still don’t fully understand. Because of that, it’s impossible to prevent it or reduce your risk of developing it.
How Do I Know If I Have Adhd?
ADHD is not a dangerous condition, but it can affect many parts of your life, including school and work, relationships, and more.
ADHD is a condition that you develop in childhood, almost always before age 12. ADHD is technically a lifelong condition. People who “outgrow” it usually still have some symptoms, but the symptoms are eventually no longer severe enough to meet the diagnostic criteria.
Women are less likely to develop ADHD. About 60% of women have ADHD, which continues into adulthood, compared to about 30% of men.
With treatment and practice, it is also possible to harness the effects of this condition and turn them into benefits. The links between ADHD and creativity, problem-solving and strong memory abilities are well recognized by experts and researchers. Many major corporations specifically seek to hire neurodiverse individuals, including those with ADHD, because certain types of careers are influenced by circumstances.
How A.d.h.d. Can Affect Your Relationships
Each person’s ADHD is as unique as they are. Many people live with ADHD for most of their lives without diagnosis or treatment. Although it is possible to adapt to it – and even use it and turn many of its characteristics into strengths – the condition often makes life more difficult for people who have it.
If you suspect that you or your child has ADHD, a good place to start is to ask your primary care provider or your child’s pediatrician for help. They can refer you to a specialist with training and experience in diagnosing and treating ADHD.
If a specialist provider diagnoses you with ADHD, they can also provide you with guidance and recommendations on treatment options. Some of the best things you can do to help yourself along the way are:
It is important to remember that there is no one right way to manage ADHD. Some people may benefit from medication, therapy, or a combination of both. What works for one person may or may not work for you or your children. The timeline for you or your child to see results may also change. It’s also important to find what works for you and your child and use what you find to the best of your ability.
Adhd Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, And Treatment
A common misconception is that women tend to have inattention-type symptoms or receive a diagnosis of the inattention type of ADHD. However, many studies show that this is not the case.
Instead, girls are more likely to have inattention-type symptoms than boys and men, but less likely to have hyperactive/impulsive-type symptoms. That means women are just as likely to have inattentive-type ADHD as boys and men, but less likely to have hyperactive/impulsive-type and mixed-type ADHD.
Women with ADHD and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) are often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, causing depression or powerlessness. It is important to know that ADHD is a condition that affects the way your brain works. This means that the difficulties it causes are due to a medical condition and not a personality or character defect.
If you suspect that you or your child has ADHD, it’s important to talk to a health care provider who specializes in diagnosing and treating this condition. Together, you can develop a treatment plan to manage ADHD symptoms so you can find a way to turn your differences into strengths.
Bpd And Adhd: What You Should Know
Note: This article is about how ADHD affects women and individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB), regardless of confirmed gender identity. This section refers to women using the terms “girls” (for those under 18) and “women” (for those over 18). So this article is easy to read and understand. This article also refers to men and individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB) as “boys” (for those
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