Rethinking ADHD Podcast

Why can ADHD go unrecognized in women for so long?In this mini episode of Rethinking ADHD, the conversation explores how masking and compensatory strategies can make ADHD symptoms less visible in women — sometimes from an early age and across different stages of life.🎥 Watch the full video podcast on YouTube for the complete conversation: https://bit.ly/48fRdTaThe discussion looks at why academic or professional success doesn't necessarily rule out ADHD, and how perfectionism, anxiety and the pressure to keep up can sometimes conceal the difficulties a person is experiencing. The speakers also consider how women may reach adulthood or later life without a diagnosis, after their symptoms have been attributed to hormones or other conditions.The conversation covers the importance of:Recognizing masking and compensatory strategies during ADHD assessmentsLooking beyond academic and professional achievements to understand the effort involvedConsidering burnout and the impact of masking over timeAvoiding assumptions that ADHD would already have been diagnosed in childhoodUnderstanding the potential overlap between ADHD, hormonal changes and co-occurring conditionsRecognizing the gaps in research involving women and underrepresented communitiesTaking a more individualized, lifespan-informed approach to assessment and careThe episode highlights why clinicians need to look beyond what is immediately visible, listen carefully to women's experiences and consider the wider context of their symptoms when assessing ADHD.