ADHD Diagnosis Disparities in Females and BIPOC Patients
As a widely known and common neurodevelopmental disorder in the U.S., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – also known as attention deficit disorder (ADD) – occurs in about 9.4 percent of children ages 2 to 17 years. The condition goes as an undiagnosed and untreated struggle more often for girls, women, and certain Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) groups. In addition to dealing with ADHD, nearly two-thirds of those with the disorder have a behavioral, emotional, or mental disorder along with the condition – such as dyslexia, Tourette syndrome, autism, depression, anxiety, conduct disorder, or others. Let’s take a look at ADHD and health disparities of female and BIPOC individuals.
ADHD Symptoms
To increase awareness of ADHD, it’s important for the symptoms to be recognized. Patients may display a few or several of the symptoms, which may include but are not limited to:
Trouble concentrating for long periods
Fidgeting or trouble staying seated in the classroom
Issues with memory and reading comprehension
Trouble following directions
Emotional outbursts in the classroom
Problems with impulse control
Issues with regulating emotions
Trouble getting along with others
Forgetting to turn in class assignments
Difficulty falling asleep at night
Losing belongings frequently
Daydreaming or “spacing out” in the classroom
ADHD in Females
In comparison to boys, girls are diagnosed less often at 5.6 percent compared to 12.9 percent for boys, and the disorder often goes undiagnosed and thus untreated in girls. For girls and women with ADHD, the symptoms often show up very differently than they do in boys. Where a majority of boys are hyperactive, boisterous, and have emotional outbursts; girls with ADHD more often display the inattentive part of the disorder and have trouble with things like staying focused in the classroom, completing tasks, keeping track of belongings, and remembering to turn in assignments. Many females go undiagnosed until adulthood and are diagnosed when their child is diagnosed with ADHD. Research shows that girls with continued undiagnosed ADHD are more likely to develop depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, underachievement in school, and substance abuse issues.
ADHD in BIPOC Groups
There are disparities in getting Black and Latina/Latino/Latinx children with ADHD diagnosed as well. In comparison to their white counterparts, Black children are 69 percent less likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis and Latina/Latino/Latinx children are 50 percent less likely to receive the diagnosis. Improving awareness about the condition, starting BIPOC ADHD support groups, and adding national healthcare for all could go a long way in helping to improve diagnosis statistics for these groups.
The Stigma of ADHD in BIPOC Communities
Families can also take a more proactive stance to advocate for diagnosis, treatment, and awareness about ADHD in BIPOC communities to fight against the stigma of the disorder. Black parents are often told by teachers and other parents – even within their own community – that their children are bad and that they need to do a better job of parenting. Kids with ADHD could also benefit from having more people who look like them to be qualified to diagnose the disorder.
Well-Known ADHD Success Stories
It’s not all bad when it comes to ADHD, however. Many well-known and talented individuals thrive in their chosen fields of expertise and are able to focus especially well on subjects of interest to them. Some female and BIPOC people diagnosed with ADHD include Simone Biles, Michelle Rodriguez, will.i.am (William James Adams, Jr.), and Solange Knowles. It’s also thought that Muhammad Ali, who was diagnosed with dyslexia, also had undiagnosed ADHD. Identifying with a famous person with ADHD can be really helpful for some to help them realize that they are not alone in their struggles.
Moving Forward to Help Those With ADHD
As a commonly diagnosed neurological disorder in the U.S., improvements need to be seen for females and some BIPOC patients with ADHD. Diagnosis and treatment for these patients need to be improved through several efforts. By taking action to improve ADHD awareness, recognize ADHD symptoms, work against possible provider bias in diagnosing females and BIPOC patients, reduce the stigma, increase the number of female and BIPOC providers who can diagnose ADHD, and add national healthcare for all; those who need assistance to improve their school and social lives can be helped more often. These underserved patients don’t need to suffer alone and can be on a path toward better lives with some support from teachers, parents, coaches, and anyone who can lend a helping hand.
Sources
Gender differences in ADHD. American Psychological Association website. Accessed July 9, 2021. https://www.apa.org/topics/adhd/gender
Children Left Behind. ADDitude: Inside the ADHD Mind website. Accessed July 9, 2021. https://www.additudemag.com/race-and-adhd-how-people-of-color-get-left-behind/
Evelyn Polk Green, MSEd. We Need to Talk About ADHD Stigma in Black Communities. ADDatitude: Inside the ADHD Mind website. Accessed July 9, 2021. https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-stigma-bipoc-communities/
Susan Young, Nicoletta Adamo, Bryndís Björk Ásgeirsdóttir, Polly Branney, Michelle Beckett, William Colley, Sally Cubbin, Quinton Deeley, Emad Farrag, Gisli Gudjonsson, Peter Hill, Jack Hollingdale, Ozge Kilic, Tony Lloyd, Peter Mason, Eleni Paliokosta, Sri Perecherla, Jane Sedgwick, Caroline Skirrow, Kevin Tierney, Kobus van Rensburg, and Emma Woodhouse. Females with ADHD: An expert consensus statement taking a lifespan approach providing guidance for the identification and treatment of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder in girls and women. BMC Psychiatry website. Accessed July 9, 2021. https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-020-02707-9
National Prevalence of ADHD and Treatment: Information on children and adolescents, 2016. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Accessed July 9, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/features/national-prevalence-adhd-and-treatment.html
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Importantly, this information is not a substitute for, nor does it replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional.
