The ADHD Test for Women is designed with the experience of real ADHD women in mind to help you in your quest for self-ADHD-discovery.
The test is based on the DSM 5 criteria but broken down with a few examples of how each symptom often looks for women. While it cannot diagnose you with ADHD, it can be a screening tool to provide to your doctor.
Consider your answer to each question carefully. It can even be helpful to to get feedback from people who know you best.
The ADHD Test for Women
Further Help for an Accurate Diagnosis
ADHD is often missed in women because it looks different for us. Plus, many doctors and mental health providers are misinformed or under-informed about ADHD (especially in women).
This guide is intended to help. Inside is an additional screening tool, info on how to find a knowledgeable doctor, and other conditions that mimic ADHD. It even includes research you can give to your doctor if you find them less informed than you’d hoped.
Find the guide here
ADHD Research vs. DSM Criteria
Currently, the diagnostic criteria for ADHD primarily looks for symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity (makes sense based on what ADHD stands for right?).
But research shows a number of other characteristics of ADHD that aren’t currently part of the diagnostic criteria. Things like…
Related: Is ADHD real?
Those of us with ADHD have an Interest Based Nervous System.
Our nervous systems prioritize things that fascinate us– to the exclusion of all else. At the same time, it makes it unnecessarily difficult for us to do the other (more important things) that we need to do.
We often struggle with emotion regulation (not just attention regulation).
Emotions can hit hard and fast, completely flooding our brain. Doctors and therapists who aren’t as familiar with the research often misdiagnose this as an atypical mood disorder or even Bipolar disorder. Research, however, shows that emotion dis-regulation goes hand in hand with ADHD.
ADHD is more of an inability to regulate attention rather than a deficit in attention.
We’re paying attention to stuff, it’s just not usually what we’re trying or needing to pay attention to.
Related: Organize Your ADHD to be More Productive
We often experience Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria.
Individuals with ADHD often have intense, whole body reactions to experiences or perceptions of rejection and criticism. That’s Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria.
Related: Is it ADHD or Anxiety? Or Both…
Sometimes a person doesn’t show obvious signs of ADHD until their responsibilities increase.
A kid may do well in grade school but struggle in college. They will have some of the symptoms but those symptoms don’t create major obstacles until later.
Related: When You Aren’t Living Up to Your Potential
Many people with ADHD are impulsive in spending habits, frequently changing jobs, hobbies, etc…
but the diagnostic criteria largely alludes to impulsiveness in the form of social interactions. You know, those questions about blurting things out, talking a lot, and interrupting people.
It’s helpful to know that these features are present within ADHD even though they aren’t on the test.
Share The ADHD Test for Women
Women with ADHD are usually misdiagnosed with something else. Research indicates that up to 75% of women with ADHD don’t know they have it yet. ADHD often impacts our self esteem, disrupts relationships, and creates emotional turmoil. Many times, doctors treat these symptoms with antidepressants. Unfortunately, they don’t do much for ADHD.
We have to change that! Share the ADHD Test for Women on your social media profile to help inspire change and spread the awareness! Women suffer in silence and it’s time that we end that. Help me spread the word, okay?
Related: ADHD Explained on TV