If you’ve searched for a female autism test for you or your daughter, have wondered whether it might be ADHD instead, and now feel confused, you’re not alone. Autism and ADHD can present very differently in girls and women, and it can be hard to get the diagnosis you need to thrive. We’re here to help.
At A Glance
Autism and ADHD assessments are available for girls, teenagers and adult women.
- Because autism and ADHD often present differently in girls and women, especially through masking, our clinicians are trained to recognise signs that can otherwise be missed.
- Spectrum North West offers face to face, multidisciplinary assessments in the North West using gold-standard tools such as ADOS-2, ADI-R and DISCO.
Why Autism and ADHD Are So Often Missed in Girls and Women
There are many reasons why more males than females are diagnosed with autism or ADHD. Historically, most research has been based on the male presentation of both conditions, so many girls and women who mask their difficulties, or present more subtly, have been overlooked by schools, GPs and even earlier assessments.
Females, and some people with a more subtle neurodivergent presentation, can internalise their emotions and may express anxiety by remaining under the radar in settings outside the home. This can make their neurodivergence more difficult for other people to spot.
Autistic females are also more likely than males to emulate their peers, have passions that don’t seem atypical and may develop a social “persona” based on one or several people they’ve encountered.
Girls and women with ADHD might be subtly inattentive rather than visibly hyperactive, which can make it hard for them, and the people around them, to recognise they have difficulty regulating their attention.
We look at this in far more depth, including the specific signs we look for during an assessment, in our article:
Diagnosis Can Change Lives
We’ve never met a person who hasn’t eventually felt relieved or empowered by finally having an explanation for some of the difficulties they’ve experienced.
That’s why we’re so passionate about making sure girls and women get the diagnosis they need, for autism, ADHD, or both.
A large proportion of our clients are female, and many have had difficulty having their autism or ADHD identified because of stereotypes that still exist. Some have previously received diagnoses of mental health conditions that never quite seemed to “fit” with their experience of the world.
Recognising that you, or your daughter, are not a “broken” neurotypical person can be life changing.
Autism and ADHD Assessment for Girls and Women at Spectrum North West
Our experienced, multidisciplinary team carries out face to face autism and ADHD assessments for girls and women, using recognised, gold standard tools such as ADOS-2, ADI-R and DISCO.
Every clinician understands how differently these conditions can present in girls and women, including ADHD masking in females, so whether it’s an ADHD test for a teenage girl, a female autism test for yourself, or an assessment for your daughter, we won’t measure either of you against a checklist built for boys.
Not sure yet?
Our pre-diagnostic consultation is a low-pressure way to talk things through before committing to a full assessment.