Article by Esha Bhatti
The University of Maryland is seeing a slight increase in the number of women now registering for academic support services related to ADHD, according to the university’s Accessibility and Disability Service (ADS).
Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) registering to receive academic support at the University of Maryland have historically been self-identified males, but that statistic is changing, according to ADS.
ADS says that 1,100 students at the university were registered under their department to receive accommodations for ADHD as of the 2022-2023 school year. There is a current ratio of 51 self-identified females with ADHD to 49 self-identified males with ADHD registered under the department.
“At its core, [ADHD] is a diagnosis related to concerns with executive functioning,” Tessa Cahill said, Director of Accessibility and Disability Service. “Executive functioning allow[s] us to engage in time management, planning ahead, initiating tasks that we have to do, sustained attention, and impulse control.”
While there are still many misconceptions about the neurodevelopmental disorder within all demographics, society holds a particular misunderstanding of how ADHD affects women.
According to Dr. Grace Ellen Mahoney, a staff psychologist at the university counseling center, women were less likely to be taken for ADHD diagnostic testing during their childhood than men were.
“Boys [have] a stereotypical presentation [of ADHD] with jumping out of their seats, not being able to sit still and running around,” Mahoney said. “Whereas girls and women are more likely to have the inattentive presentation [of ADHD] and they [are] not flagged by their parents or teachers.”
Luckily, students with ADHD or symptoms can utilize the following strategies to ensure that they too can flourish on campus.
Utilize campus resources
Students can receive an official ADHD diagnosis at the counseling center for $250, which is a cost that is significantly cheaper than that offered by community providers. The ADHD screening evaluation, which takes a total of three hours, is “really designed primarily for students who are interested in seeking medication for behavioral health services,” Mahoney said.
Students can schedule a preliminary assessment by calling the counseling center or visiting the reception desk on the main floor of the Shoemaker Building. The student can receive prescriptions for medication from licensed physicians at the center and learn coping strategies through personal counseling and workshops.
Once the student has received documentation of their disability, they will be able to come up with an accommodation plan with ADS to help them succeed in the area in which they would like assistance, whether that be academics, housing or employment.
Make a self-care routine
Mahoney emphasized that adequate sleep, three nutritious meals a day and exercise are crucial to managing ADHD symptoms.
Use technology to your advantage
Mahoney suggested students test out different resources like a digital or paper calendar, to-do lists and checklists.
Challenge negative self-talk
It’s very common for people who have ADHD to internalize negative messages about themselves and compare themselves to their peers, Mahoney said. Students can try saying positive affirmations in the mirror when they are getting ready in the mornings and journaling about their day’s achievements before going to bed.
Have pride in your identity
Finally, as colleges and workplaces become increasingly inclusive of neurodivergence among students, women with ADHD should remember the value they bring to their institutions.
“[W]e talk about [ADHD] in a very deficit manner,” Mahoney said. “But you know, for example, maybe the student is really creative and does a great job at leading classroom discussions, makes a great leader for class projects…Try and really maintain a balanced view.”