ADD Consults
ADD Consults is the first and only virtual online ADHD Clinic.  Founded by  Terry Matlen, MSW, ACSW, the  ADD Consults Web site   allows visitors to shop for books on ADHD, access online conferences, receive private consultations from experts, and other services.
www.addconsults.com

Attention Deficit Disorder Resources
Attention Deficit Disorder Resources is a national non-profit organization that helps people with ADD or ADHD achieve their full potential through education, support and networking opportunities.   The organization’s mission is to help people with ADHD achieve their full potential through education, support, and networking opportunities.   The Attention Deficit Disorder Resources’  Web site has over 100 articles written by national ADHD authorities as well as adults with ADHD and 100 plus links to ADHD-related Web sites.   It also includes the National ADHD Directory with more than 1000 ADHD Service Providers.
www.addresources.org

Children and Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
With over 20,000 members and over 200 affiliates nationwide, CHADD is the nation's leading non-profit organization serving individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD). Through collaborative leadership, advocacy, research, education and support, CHADD provides science-based, evidence-based information about AD/HD to parents, educators, professionals, the media, and the general public.
www.chadd.org

The Edge Foundation
The Foundation’s mission is to help every child, adolescent and young adult with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD or ADHD) to fully realize their own potential, personal vision, and passion. The Edge Foundation believes that professional coaching while not a substitute for the traditional multi-modal treatment for (ADD) ADHD, is a critical and highly effective intervention in the nontraditional learner’s ability to realize his or her potential. At Edge we want every student with (ADD) ADHD to have access to an ADHD coach. Coaching can give a young person the edge necessary to achieve his or her full potential in academic and other life pursuits.
www.edgefoundation.org

National Resource Center on ADHD
The National Resource Center on AD/HD (NRC): A Program of CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), was established in 2002 to be the national clearinghouse for the latest evidence-based information on AD/HD. The NRC provides comprehensive information and support to individuals with AD/HD, their families and friends, and the professionals involved in their lives.
www.help4adhd.org

Introduction

According to the prestigious Mayo Clinic, it is estimated that 7.5 percent of school-aged children have Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The great majority of these children grow up to be adults with ADHD. This means there are between 4.5 and 5.5 million women in the United States alone with ADHD.

If one thinks of the core symptoms of ADHD (distractibility, impulsivity and hyperactivity), it is no wonder that women struggle with seemingly simple tasks such as picking out their clothes, keeping their home in order, handling paperwork at the jobs, maintaining healthy relationships, etc? And, we often forget that many ADHD symptoms aren't usually described in clinical journals and books, but have been observed in countless women.

Not everyone with ADHD shows the same symptoms. Some people are hyperactive. Others are sluggish. Some love having a lot of commotion and stimulation in their lives. Others need to retreat to a quiet place to re-charge.

Symptoms

Some symptoms of ADHD but not commonly described in articles about ADHD include:

• Hypersensitivity to noise, touch, and smell
• Low feeling of self-worth
• Easily overwhelmed
• Hypersensitive to criticism
• Poor sense of time – often runs late
• Starts projects but can't seem to finish them
• Takes on too much
• Difficulty remembering names
• Says things without thinking, often hurting others' feelings
• Appears self-absorbed
• Poor math and/or writing skills
• Doesn't seem to hear what others are saying
• Addictive behaviors: shopping, eating
• Problems with word retrieval
• Poor handwriting
• Difficulty with boring, repetitive tasks
• Thinks things over and over
• Difficulty making decisions
• Clumsy, poor coordination
• Tires easily or conversely, can't sit still
• Has problems falling asleep and difficulty waking up the next morning

Effects of Living with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

For some women, just holding their own in a conversation can be a real challenge. Others avoid social gatherings because they miss social cues. This makes them feel out of step and they shut down to avoid embarrassing themselves.

Many women feel unable to entertain at home because the piles of clothes, papers and assorted knick-knacks keep them away from inviting people over.

Relationships, work situations, and parenting can all become huge challenges for women living with undiagnosed and untreated ADHD. The result of living for years with these difficulties often produces depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, substance abuse, and other difficulties.

Treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Women

Much of the treatment used for ADHD in children is often the treatment of choice for adults too. Studies have shown that a combination of counseling, psycho education (learning more about ADHD and how it impacts one's life), coaching, support groups and medication (if recommended by a physician), is the most successful treatment approach for women.

The most common medications used are the stimulants (Ritalin, Adderall, Dexedrine, and Concerta are currently the most popular) and a newer non-stimulant medication, Strattera.

However, many women because of their life-long struggle with ADHD may find themselves anxious, depressed or both. Approximately 50 percent of ADHD adults experience a co-morbidity, which then needs to be addressed by adding perhaps an anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication to their regime.

Special Considerations for Women with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Research is beginning to show that ADHD women have special issues throughout their life that can extra difficulties in living with this disorder. As hormonal changes shift, so do their ADHD symptoms.

On the one hand, some girls may find that their hyperactivity improves during puberty, yet they may experience an increase in mood instability before and during their menstrual cycles.

Peri-menopause and menopause can create it's own set of problems. Women often report an increase in ADHD symptoms, particularly memory loss and difficulty with word retrieval. Some notice an increase in depressive symptoms. It's important for women to work closely with their physicians during these times, so that changes in medications can be discussed. Often, hormonal treatment can alleviate these aggravated symptoms.

Check Your ADHD "Temperature"

Whether you are a teenager, or a post-menopausal woman, it's important to regularly check your "ADHD temperature" and discuss any changes in your symptoms with your health care provider.

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The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Association of Social Workers or its members.

Related Articles:

• About Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Your Options
• Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: How Social Workers Help
• Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Tip Sheets
• Resources for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Real Life Stories

The social worker will begin by asking you, the child's parents, to complete a behavioral checklist to determine exactly what areas your child is experiencing difficulty. After arranging for psychological as well as physiological testing the social worker will also coordinate with your family physician to determine if medication is need to relieve some of the extreme symptoms.

Think of the social worker as a long-term coordinator, creating a plan that's appropriate for your child, a plan that will likely need modification over time as the situation changes. This plan, which may last for your child's entire school career, will involve educational, medical, emotional, and practical issues. Working with your child on a regular basis, a social worker can also help to establish a self-monitoring behavioral system, which has been known to change classroom behavior over time.

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Related Articles:

• About Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Current Trends in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Your Options
• Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Tip Sheets
• Resources for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Real Life Stories