Symptom Tests for Adults

[Self-Test] ADHD Symptoms in Women

Symptoms of ADHD and ADD often manifest differently in men and women, many of whom grew up being called lazy or dumb while inattentive attention deficit was ignored or mislabeled as hormones or anxiety. Take this self-test to see if you exhibit the symptoms of ADD most common in women and girls. Then share the results with your doctor to seek a diagnosis.

By Sari Solden, M.S., LMFT Medically reviewed by Michele Novotni, Ph.D. on September 27, 2019

Symptoms of ADHD in Women

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not gender biased. ADHD symptoms exist almost as often in girls as they do in boys, and the majority of kids with ADHD never outgrow it. What’s more, scientific research strongly suggests that ADHD is hereditary. Which means that, if you are the mother of a child with attention and impulsivity problems, you may have ADHD, too.

This comes as a surprise to many women who assume that ADHD is a diagnosis for hyper little boys. Indeed, it is not. ADHD in adults is very real; and ADHD diagnoses among women are on the rise.

According to the 5th edition of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, ADHD symptoms may fall into three categories: predominantly hyperactive, predominantly inattentive, and combined type. Inattentive ADHD symptoms are still often misunderstood and misdiagnosed by medical professionals who mistake them for stress, anxiety, or another related condition. Inattentive ADHD is also more common in girls and women than it is in boys and men.

If you suspect that you have symptoms of ADHD, complete the free female ADHD test below and share the results with a health care professional — the only person who can diagnose ADHD.

[Related Self-Test: The ADHD Test for Girls]

NOTE: This self-test is not intended to diagnose or to replace the care of a health care professional.  Only a doctor or mental health professional can diagnose ADHD based on clinical evaluation.

Do you start the day determined to get organized, and end the day feeling defeated?

1 out of 18

Is your time and energy taken up with coping, staying organized, and holding it together, with no time for fun or relaxation?

2 out of 18

Do you have trouble balancing your checkbook?

3 out of 18

Do you feel as if life is out of control, and that it's impossible to meet demands?

4 out of 18

Do you feel that you have better ideas than other people but are unable to organize them or act on them?

5 out of 18

Do you feel like you are "passing for normal," but you are really an impostor?

6 out of 18

Do you feel like you're always at one end of a deregulated activity spectrum — either a couch potato or a tornado?

7 out of 18

Do you shut down in the middle of the day, feeling assaulted?

8 out of 18

Do you feel overwhelmed in stores, at the office, or at parties?

9 out of 18

Do you despair of ever fulfilling your potential and meeting your goals?

10 out of 18

Are you called "a slob" or "spacey?"

11 out of 18

Do you watch others of equal intelligence and education pass you by?

12 out of 18

Do requests for "one more thing" at the end of the day put you over the top emotionally?

13 out of 18

Do you hesitate to have people over to your house because you’re ashamed of the mess?

14 out of 18

Is it impossible for you to shut out sounds and distractions that don't bother others?

15 out of 18

Are you clueless as to how others manage to lead consistent, regular lives?

16 out of 18

Have you ever been thought of as selfish because you don't write thank-you notes or send birthday cards?

17 out of 18

Does time, money, paper, or "stuff" dominate your life and hamper your ability to achieve your goals?

18 out of 18

(Optional) Would you like to receive your ADHD in women symptom test results — plus more helpful resources — via email from ADDitude?

Can’t see the self-test questions above? Click here to open this test in a new window.

Attention Deficit Disorder in Women: Next Steps

1. Research: What ADD Looks Like In Women
2. Take this Test: Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria Symptoms in Adults
3. Read: “That Explains Everything!” Discovering My ADHD in Adulthood
4. Take this Test: Do I Have Inattentive ADD?
5. Read More About Women, Hormones, and ADHD
6. Take this Test: Full ADHD Symptom Test for Adults

Sari Solden, M.S., LMFT, is a member of the ADDitude ADHD Medical Review Panel.

Updated on July 20, 2020

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    1. The higher the percentage(the more questions you answered in the affirmative), the more likely you are to be demonstrating the symptoms of attention deficit disorder. This self-test is not a diagnosis. A mental health professional can make a diagnosis based on clinical evaluation. Print out your results and take them to you clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

  6. Its interesting the test mentions thank you notes and other types of greeting cards. Why are these so hard for us, so easy for others? I’ve struggled with this my whole adult life. My friends will whip out a thank you note within a day or two, while for me its an epic project that may take months yo get to, if I ever do. It makes us seem unappreciative or uncaring, but we are not. Would love to finally get to the bottom of this weird struggle…..anybody have ideas or ever read an article on this? I haven’t been able to find anything.

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