Everyone notices the hyperactive ones. It’s the other group that gets overlooked.

Everyone notices the hyperactive ones. It’s the other group that gets overlooked.

The hyperactive side of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is almost impossible to miss: unable to sit still, running around. Even the diagnostic criterion itself describes it as being "driven by a motor."

But it is much harder to recognize those without hyperactivity, whose symptoms are predominantly inattentive. Especially in women, when the presentation is more withdrawn, more anxious, and more avoidant, it can go unnoticed for years. And going unnoticed has a dramatic impact on quality of life.

A clip from the video "Has ADHD suddenly become more common?" on my channel.