11 ms·
ADHD is defined in the DSM-IV and now -5 as presenting with predominantly hyperactive tendencies or with predominantly inattentive tendencies (or combined, pres
by mattlutze 11y ago
ADHD is defined in the DSM-IV and now -5 as presenting with predominantly hyperactive tendencies or with predominantly inattentive tendencies (or combined, presenting both).
I didn't read it as the author saying that males don't present with inattentive type. Rather, I thought she was saying that, since women don't as often present with hyperactive type ADHD as males, the general message is "girls have less ADHD." Which, then, can impair seeking a diagnosis for a female that has the disorder, since there's a general bias to look for other things first.
As far as I've ever understood the inattentive type goes under-diagnosed for both sexes, as it's not as disruptive to classrooms, where most diagnoses are started for children. The hyperactive type may be more often diagnosed based on comparisons between US and European diagnostic criteria -- the European model results in fewer diagnoses[1].
The author discusses this early in the piece:
[Dr. Ellen Littman attributes under-diagnosis in part] "to the early clinical studies of ADHD in the 1970s. “These studies were based on really hyperactive young white boys who were taken to clinics,” Littman says. “The diagnostic criteria were developed based on those studies. As a result, those criteria over-represent the symptoms you see in young boys, making it difficult for girls to be diagnosed unless they behave like hyperactive boys.”
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder#cite_note-Cowen2012-13 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivit...
- belorn 11y agoPeople also used to believed in 1970 that AIDS had something to do with peoples sexual preferences. Is there a reason to believe that diagnostic criteria has not changed in the last 50 years?
- mattlutze 11y agoI would read the criteria in DSM-III, -IV, and -5 to answer that, but I don't have access. More inattentive diagnoses occur now, certainly -- I'm one of them. Diagnosed finally as an adult because I wasn't a disruption in my classes. At question is more whether an understanding of initial indicators, and efficacy in flagging both presentations, is equal in parents and teachers. Obnoxious/hyperactive kids wear on us more than space-cadet/inattentive kids. The hyperactive ones are the squeaky wheel in this case. (And, interesting choices in your signposting, there.)
- doppelganger27 11y ago> ADHD is defined in the DSM-IV and now -5 as presenting with predominantly hyperactive tendencies or with predominantly inattentive tendencies (or combined, presenting both). This was a little unclear to me until I looked into the wikipedia page you linked a bit more[1]. To try to clarify in case others are in the same spot, ADHD has 3 primary "sub-types:" * Predominantly inattentive, which is the form discussed in the original article. * Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, which most diagnosed boys exhibit. * Combined (AKA both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive) I'm not sure if the most common case for young boys is only hyperactive or if it's combined. Either way, the symptoms of hyperactivity are most disruptive, so they are what causes most people to seek medical help. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder#Diagnostic_and_Statistical_Manual https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivit...