ADHD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder, likely started when the brain was developing in utero, pregnancy and early years. There is some research into adulthood presentation although it is perhaps believed that currently, for some, it does not present until later in life.
ADHD is a problem regulating attention, emotions and inhibition and is a series of symptoms that need to be present to be diagnosed. It is believed to have a genetic component.
ADHD is characterised by core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. As people get older, hyperactivity and impulsivity tend to diminish but they continue to experience inattention and disorganisation effects. There are three main types : Combined presentation type, Predominantly inattentive type and predominantly hyperactive type.
The burden of ADHD can be huge and it is known to result in a range of impairment:
ADHD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder, likely started when the brain was developing in utero, pregnancy and early years. There is some research into adulthood presentation although it is perhaps believed that currently, for some, it does not present until later in life.
ADHD is a problem regulating attention, emotions and inhibition and is a series of symptoms that need to be present to be diagnosed. It is believed to have a genetic component.
ADHD is characterised by core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. As people get older, hyperactivity and impulsivity tend to diminish but they continue to experience inattention and disorganisation effects. There are three main types : Combined presentation type, Predominantly inattentive type and predominantly hyperactive type.
The burden of ADHD can be huge and it is known to result in a range of impairment:
Girls, Women & ADHD
Girls with ADHD don’t usually stand out at school they are often the ones looking out of the window, twirling their hair and they may be written off as ‘space cadets’. A number of women with ADHD go undiagnosed because women were never hyperactive and did not cause problems for anybody, so they were not picked up. She says that women are more often misdiagnosed and treated for something other than ADHD.
Women may suffer more from the consequences of being inattentive and may have found strategies around things. They may tend not to leave their seat from a young age due to social stigma and therefore symptoms may have become more internal from a young age.
A lot of women experience rejection sensitivity dysphoria and may feel overwhelmed and labelled as ‘over reactive’.
Dr Emma Field has assessed many women with ADHD and ASD over the last few years and highly values their unseen stories and histories.

Girls, Women & ADHD
Girls with ADHD don’t usually stand out at school they are often the ones looking out of the window, twirling their hair and they may be written off as ‘space cadets’. A number of women with ADHD go undiagnosed because women were never hyperactive and did not cause problems for anybody, so they were not picked up. She says that women are more often misdiagnosed and treated for something other than ADHD.
Women may suffer more from the consequences of being inattentive and may have found strategies around things. They may tend not to leave their seat from a young age due to social stigma and therefore symptoms may have become more internal from a young age.
A lot of women experience rejection sensitivity dysphoria and may feel overwhelmed and labelled as ‘over reactive’.
Dr Emma Field has assessed many women with ADHD and ASD over the last few years and highly values their unseen stories and histories.