Shocking News: ADHD Exists in Women, Science Confirms
In a groundbreaking study that’s sure to shock absolutely no one with a lick of sense or lived experience, researchers have stumbled upon the earth-shattering revelation that women with ADHD exist. Not only that, but – hold onto your knickers – they’re diagnosed later than men! Who would have thought?
As an AuDHD trans woman diagnosed long before I came out, I find myself in the peculiar position of saying, “Well, duh” to the scientific community. It’s as if they’ve just discovered that water is wet or that the Pope is Catholic. Bravo, lads and lasses, you’ve caught up to what we’ve been screaming about for decades.
The study, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, reveals that women with ADHD are diagnosed a whopping four years later than men. Four years! That’s enough time to complete university, have a child, or watch all seasons of Doctor Who twice over. But for many women, it’s four more years of struggling, being misunderstood, and wondering why they can’t just ‘get it together’ like everyone else seems to.
But wait, there's more! The study also found that women with ADHD are twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety and mood disorders compared to men. It’s almost as if years of being told you’re just ‘ditzy.’ ‘emotional.’ or ‘not trying hard enough’ might have some negative effects on one’s mental health. Who knew?
As someone who’s navigated the labyrinthine world of neurodiversity and gender identity, I can’t help but feel a mix of vindication and frustration. On one hand, it’s nice to see science finally catching up to what many of us have known intuitively. On the other hand, it’s maddening to think of all the women who’ve suffered needlessly because the medical establishment couldn’t be bothered to look beyond its male-centric norms.
Let’s not forget that psychiatry, like a crusty old uncle at Christmas dinner, has a long and inglorious history of treating women as little more than hysterical property. It’s a field that’s marinated in patriarchal bias for so long that it’s a wonder it can see women as patients at all, let alone accurately diagnose them.
And here’s a fun fact for you: did you know that trans individuals are six times more likely to be neurodivergent than our neurotypical counterparts? It’s true! We’re like collectors of marginalised identities, each one making it that much harder to get proper care in a system that barely acknowledges our existence.
Now, I don’t want to be too hard on the researchers. After all, they're just doing their jobs, methodically proving what many of us have known in our bones. But one has to wonder: how many more studies will it take before we see real change? How many more women need to be misdiagnosed, over-medicated, or simply ignored before the medical establishment gets its act together?
The study notes that early detection and treatment are crucial for reducing the risks associated with ADHD. No kidding! It’s almost as if proper diagnosis and support could prevent years of struggle, self-doubt, and “why can't I just be normal” moments. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves – that might require actually listening to women about their own experiences.
To be fair, the researchers do acknowledge some limitations. They only used publicly-funded registry data, which means they might have missed out on the experiences of those lucky enough to afford private care or unlucky enough to have fallen through the cracks entirely. They also didn’t measure the severity of disorders, because why bother with nuance when broad strokes will do?
In all seriousness, while it’s easy (and admittedly fun) to poke holes in this study, it does serve an important purpose. It provides hard data to back up what many in the neurodivergent community have been saying for years. It quantifies the gender gap in ADHD diagnosis and treatment, potentially paving the way for much-needed changes in clinical practice.
But let’s not pat ourselves on the back just yet. Recognising the problem is only the first step. The real challenge lies in dismantling the systemic biases that led to this situation in the first place. It means reexamining our diagnostic criteria, training healthcare providers to recognise ADHD in all its diverse presentations, and – here’s a radical idea – actually listening to women when they say something’s not right.
So, to the researchers behind this study, I say: thank you for your service. Your work, whilst painfully obvious to many of us, is nonetheless important. Now, if you could kindly turn your attention to why the sky is blue or why toast always lands butter-side down, that would be smashing. In the meantime, the rest of us will be here, existing in all our complex, neurodivergent glory, waiting for the world to catch up.