Diagnosing ADHD in females: 'The relief was unreal - there was euphoria, but also grief'

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder presents differently in girls than in boys. This means many females with the condition are undiagnosed or not diagnosed until adulthood

Claire Twomey, advanced ADHD coach. Photograph: Moya Nolan

FEMALE ADHD symptoms don’t look like boys’ symptoms, so girls aren’t diagnosed as often. In Ireland, 5% of children up to 18 have ADHD, but within the eight-to-12-year age range, four to five times more boys than girls are diagnosed.

Why girls aren’t diagnosed as frequently is because our understanding of ADHD is outdated, says advanced ADHD coach Claire Twomey. Males tend to present with ADHD externally. “The typical concept we have of ADHD is excessive energy, aggression, bouncing off the walls, appearing to be lazy or not interested in schoolwork.”