We are seeing an exponential rise in women diagnosed with autism and ADHD since the pandemic, with those aged 23-49 now the largest group receiving ADHD diagnoses. Yet, many AuDHD women are still dismissed in assessments that separate autism and ADHD, despite research showing they co-occur in up to 80-90% of cases.
Traditional diagnostic frameworks, like the DSM-5, rely on male-centric criteria, missing the unique ways AuDHD manifests in women. This oversight extends to treatment—over 800,000 ADHD medications were prescribed in early 2024/25 (NHS Business Unit). Yet, little research exists on how these medications impact autistic ADHD women, whose neurobiology is highly sensitive to sex hormones and neurochemical shifts.
A Personal Journey: Why This Matters
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from speaking at the ADHD & Women events over the years and listening to thousands of women, it’s this: I’m struck by how many women—around 60% of my audience—are newly seeking a diagnosis each year. The demand for support is overwhelming, yet the expertise to truly understand the female neurodivergent experience remains scarce.
Many become missed and dismissed and continue to question their identity after years of masking. My own ADHD diagnosis started after a decade-long existential crisis, followed by my autism diagnosis, which took place during a major life transition (divorce) that made coping nearly impossible. I’ve had to go through four tormenting sessions that were re-traumatising.
Despite my expertise in this field, it was still a struggle. Many of my traits were attributed to ADHD, dismissed as part of my trauma history, or overlooked due to my cross-cultural experience. My assessors were well-meaning, but as British Caucasian psychologists, they lacked the intersectional lens to fully understand my experience.
The Hidden Stories: Our Biology and Life in Motion
Here’s the truth—so many women fail to get a dual diagnosis. Why? Because they don’t meet the clinical threshold for one or either label. The reality is that AuDHD is an entirely different neurobiology and neurochemical interplay, which impacts behaviour, symptom presentation, and the best course of support.
Many of us carry trauma from navigating a world that was never built for us, where we’ve had to constantly decipher unspoken rules and hidden intentions. My journey into a new country 20 years ago began with an experience of sexual harassment—the unspoken reason that saw the end of my career in academia after my PhD.
AuDHD women have lived many different lives and are in deep need of emotional safety. Yet, unless they find a diagnostic and support provider who truly understands their experience, they risk being dismissed—just as I was three times.
And then, there’s the impact of hormonal transitions—puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause—where the support network we once relied on may fall apart. These shifts can completely alter how our neurodivergence presents, yet traditional diagnostic frameworks fail to account for these realities. With so many women now seeking support, we have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to change the system for the better.
A Scientific and Intersectional Training That Creates Lasting Change
This is why I’m putting together the first AuDHD in Women: DSM-5 Criteria through a Scientific and Intersectional Lens training. It is designed to help mental health professionals:
1. Uncover the diagnostic challenges of identifying neurodivergence in women and learn how to confidently navigate these complexities.
2. Master the gendered differences in AuDHD presentation and how the DSM-5 criteria often fail to capture key nuances.
3. Deepen scientific understanding of the neurobiology, neurochemistry, and body systems that drive behaviours in AuDHD women.
4. Integrate intersectional and gender-responsive care into your practice to ensure inclusive, empathetic, and effective support.
5. Become part of a growing referral network—those who successfully complete the programme will have the opportunity to be evaluated for inclusion in a vetted database of AuDHD-informed providers.
Women’s neurodivergence cannot be understood through a one-size-fits-all framework. Socioeconomic status, race, gender norms, disability, and life stage all influence how AuDHD traits manifest. A woman in her 40s navigating perimenopause (me) will experience ADHD and autism differently from a young woman facing her unique challenges. Yet, current diagnostic frameworks fail to account for these nuances.
Without acknowledging this complexity, countless women remain undiagnosed and unsupported.
LIVE & Interactive 6-Modules Programme
Live sessions on Zoom: Wednesdays, 12:00 PM – 1.30 PM [GMT] | Recordings Available
Dates: Beginning mid-May
Certification + Access to Referral Network
This is more than just training—it’s a movement. Women with AuDHD deserve to be seen, heard, and supported in ways that reflect their lived reality. Are you ready to lead this change?
If you missed our first cohort, join our November cohort with increased interactive learning hours.
Let’s reshape the future of mental health care—together.
#Neurodiversity #MentalHealth #ADHD #Autism #Intersectionality #AuDHD #WomensHealth
