ADHD in women

For years, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was thought to be a predominantly male condition. “It is now recognized that ADHD is not just a boy problem but a girl problem, too,” said Dilip Karnik, M.D., pediatric neurologist at Pediatrix® Child Neurology Consultants of Austin. “Girls and women just have different, less disruptive symptoms. That’s part of the reason they’ve been and still tend to be misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed.” However, increased awareness, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of ADHD is a step forward for women. “After diagnosis and appropriate management, I’ve seen girls who had been silently suffering and struggling for years become highly successful students and go off to medical and law school. Their anxiety and depression often go away completely. Treatment, without question, can change your life,” said Dr. Karnik.

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