Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) is the medical name for autism. Autism is a lifelong developmental condition which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people's behaviour.
Historically, ASC and ADHD have been recognised as mainly affecting men and boys resulting in women and girls being overlooked or misdiagnosed. According to the National Autistic Society, men and boys are three times more likely than women and girls to be diagnosed as autistic. ADHD can present differently in girls. Boys are more often described as ‘hyperactive’ while girls are more often described as ‘inattentive’ or as a combination of inattentive and hyperactive.
Women and girls are often better at masking or camouflaging their difficulties. In general, they engage in more “internalising” behaviour than boys, meaning they tend to take their problems out on themselves rather than others. Neurodevelopmental specialists and clinical psychologists highlight that autism and ADHD symptoms in women can often be misunderstood and misdiagnosed by medical professionals, mistaking them for stress, anxiety, or another related condition.
Our campaign is guided by the Thinking Differently Advisory Group, a group of members and women with expertise and lived experience of neurodiversity. The Advisory Group meet quarterly and ensures that the campaign is consistently led by autistic and ADHD voices. If you have any questions about the Thinking Differently campaign or the Advisory Group, please email pa@nfwi.org.uk.
