HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT: LATE DIAGNOSIS OF AUTISM AND ADHD IN WOMEN
This month, our Director Myles has been travelling to Queensland to conduct adult assessments, many of which involve exploring Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in women. This work has highlighted how often these neurodevelopmental conditions go unnoticed or misunderstood in females—sometimes for decades.
The rise in diagnoses among adult women is not because more people are developing these conditions—but because our understanding has significantly improved. Historically, research and diagnostic frameworks were based primarily on male presentations, overlooking how ASD and ADHD manifest in females. As awareness grows, so too does recognition of the subtle, internalised, or masked ways these conditions can present. Increased access to mental health care, greater visibility of neurodivergent voices, and more inclusive diagnostic criteria have all contributed to this long-overdue shift in recognition and support.
For many women, receiving a diagnosis of ASD or ADHD later in life is a moment of clarity. It often follows years of wondering why everyday life feels harder than it seems for others. Many have long felt "different" or "too much"—yet never had the words or framework to understand why. What makes identification so complex is that these conditions can present very differently in females compared to males.
Women with ADHD may not exhibit the hyperactive, disruptive behaviours often associated with the diagnosis. Instead, they may struggle with:
Chronic disorganisation or forgetfulness
Difficulty starting or completing tasks
Feeling overwhelmed by daily responsibilities
Emotional sensitivity and frequent mood changes
A lifelong sense of underachievement despite potential
Impulsive decision-making or trouble managing time and money These symptoms are often mislabelled as anxiety, depression, or even laziness—leaving the underlying neurodivergence untreated.
Similarly, women with Autism Spectrum Disorder often fly under the radar because of their capacity to mask—adapting their behaviour to fit in socially, often at great personal cost. Common signs include:
Exhaustion after social interactions
A need for predictability and routines to feel safe
Intense interests that may feel consuming or bring comfort
Difficulties with change or transitions
A history of social misunderstandings or feeling “on the outside”
Sensory sensitivities (to sound, light, touch, or fabrics) Many women have grown up being told they are “too sensitive” or “too intense,” and they often internalise this as a personal failing.
The overlap of ADHD and ASD in women can be even more confusing—masking may increase executive dysfunction, while emotional dysregulation common in ADHD can be misread as a personality issue rather than a neurological one. Both conditions may coexist with high levels of anxiety or low self-esteem, particularly when a woman has spent years trying to fit into environments that aren’t designed with neurodiversity in mind.
Receiving a diagnosis as an adult can bring a sense of relief and self-understanding. It opens the door to accessing supports, building self-compassion, and creating strategies that honour how one’s brain works best. At our clinic, we take a strengths-based approach—celebrating neurodivergent ways of thinking while also addressing the areas that feel challenging.
If you’ve ever felt like you’ve been "masking your way through life" or wondering why things feel harder than they should, know that you are not alone—and that understanding your neurotype can be a powerful step towards a more fulfilling life.
Hidden in Plain Sight: Late Diagnosis of Autism and ADHD in Women