The number of women seeking an ADHD diagnosis is increasing as awareness of the condition has become more commonplace.
However, this also means that demand for treatment has soared and waiting lists are racking up as a result. Some trusts have even resorted to cutting off lists temporarily until demand simmers down.
According to ADHD UK, the rise in the number of women awaiting diagnosis is largely thanks to key figures - such as Sue Perkins and Loose Women’s Nadia Sawalha - speaking out about their experiences with the condition.
Dr Max Davie, a consultant paediatrician and co-founder of ADHD UK, said:
“I think it’s probably as big a year as we’ve ever had. We are seeing a lot more people from all walks of life seeking a diagnosis later in life, particularly women.
“At the same time waiting lists have gone through the roof. NHS services have been swamped for a while and private providers are also closing their lists – there are wildly inadequate services for ADHD diagnosis, particularly for adults.”
NHS research found a 20.4% increase in ADHD medication prescriptions from 2021 to 2022, with 170,000 patients being offered adderall, and similar treatments between July and September 2022.
Why is ADHD diagnosed later in females?
During childhood, ADHD is more commonly spotted in boys as the symptoms are more obvious/better understood (e.g. disruptive behaviour at school, difficulty completing tasks and easily distracted).
Girls, however, are less likely to be diagnosed until later life as they tend to internalise their symptoms/present differently to boys. Hormones also complicate matters and can make diagnosis harder.
Remind your patients to seek professional diagnosis if they think they may have ADHD so that they can receive support from their workplace, as well as medications to help make day-to-day life more manageable.
MCM Medical offers a wide range of nursing roles across the UK, so get in touch today if you’re interested!
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