It's frustrating that those of us who were socialized as girls tend to get diagnosed later, or sometimes not at all. Many of us get diagnosed instead with other mood disorders, including depression and anxiety. Looking back over the course of our lives, it suddenly seems clear to us that the signs were there all along — but nobody noticed or knew what to look for.
But why? Here is a brief summary of some of the more common reasons:
Misconceptions by teachers and families
The majority of girls present as inattentive type, with "internalized" hyperactivity.
Girls are socialized to behave and they tend to perform better in school and be less disruptive, so their symptoms go unnoticed by teachers and parents.
They can easily get labeled as "dreamy" or "chatty" or "sensitive," while usually still able to perform highly when under pressure.
ADHD is genetic, so families often overlook symptoms, believing they are simply "quirks" of their family.
Teachers are often ill-equipped to notice inattentive symptoms in girls and are more likely to notice & recommend diagnosis for boys because they are disruptive or a "nuisance" in the classroom.
Misconceptions by healthcare providers
As they become adults, women with ADHD are likely to get diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety by medical professionals due to their executive dysfunction and emotional dysregulation, without much research into the root causes.
Medical professionals may not look into ADHD for adult women because the patients were good students or they have successful careers.
ADHD was long believed to be outgrown. If not detected in childhood, it was believed to be impossible in adulthood.