Title: Women with Attention Deficit Disorder
Author: Sari Solden
Genre: ADHD, Productivity
Author’s Website: Sari Solden & Associates
Available at: Audible
Dr Perera’s Rating:
Women and girls are often undiagnosed for ADD or ADHD. In this updated version of her groundbreaking book, Women with Attention Deficit Disorder, Sari Solden sheds an important light on the personal, professional and societal challenges that women with ADD and ADHD face.
The primary challenge that Solden highlights is that women and girls often don’t match the typical symptom profile of “hyperactive and overly talkative” that leads to diagnosis and treatment in men and boys. Recent studies, such as this article in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, have shown that girls and boys have the same rate of ADHD, but the symptoms manifest differently, with girls showing more inattention symptoms and less impulsivity symptoms.
As a result, there is a mistaken belief that men and boys are more likely to have ADHD. In turn, parents and teachers refer boy children for treatment more often. Ultimately, girls are undiagnosed, or diagnosed later, leading to additional challenges they face as a result of coping with their symptoms without treatment.
Solden’s book is a vital resource to help parents and adults identify previously undiagnosed ADHD in themselves or their daughters, and pursue treatment. The book also contains a number of coping strategies for personal and professional life addressing the specific challenges that women face. Living with undiagnosed ADHD for many years, some women may also suffer from depression, anxiety, or simply a lack of organization or sense of accomplishment in their life. Solden validates the experiences of these women, providing case studies and examples of other women who have struggled and overcome the challenges they faced as a result of undiagnosed ADHD.
Women with Attention Deficit Disorder is available on Amazon. However, I recommend listening to this edition available on Audible, which is narrated by Solden and includes updates based on the latest clinical research.
Dr Mahendra Perera is a General Psychiatrist who treats adult patients in Melbourne, Australia. Dr Perera has specific interests in ADHD, Mood Disorders and Addiction. In addition working with his patients, he has also contributed to research across a number of specialties and helped many young doctors make their way in the medical field. Learn more about Dr Perera.
Please note: Dr Perera has no financial arrangement with any of the providers listed on the site. These resources are provided as a courtesy to patients, and are not intended as a recommendation or endorsement.