On June 14, 2024, the Center hosted its first Town Hall. Women with ADHD and people passionate about supporting girls and women with ADHD attended in-person and virtually. Participants heard the latest results from the research topics survey (see below for more details), mini-lectures from ADHD experts, and strategies for supporting executive functioning skills. 

Check out this summary to learn more about the event and follow the Center on social media (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X) where we will post answers to some of the great questions posed by Town Hall attendees. 

We are grateful for funding from the Patient-
Centered Outcomes Research Institute and financial support from individual donors that allowed us to host this event!

Thank you to the over 1380 individuals who participated in the research topics prioritization survey this spring! Research topics—which were identified through Listening and Learning sessions with girls and women living with ADHD, their families, and professionals—were ranked by survey respondents to determine the top priorities for future research.

The top three research priorities ranked by girls and women with ADHD were:

1. The role of hormones in ADHD for girls and women

2. The connection between aging, cognitive decline and ADHD for post-menopausal women with ADHD

3. The unique harms of misdiagnosis or later-in-life diagnosis of ADHD in women 

Some subgroups, such as post-menopausal women with ADHD and parents of girls with ADHD, ranked research priorities differently.  Learn morein an ADDitude Magazine article published in May 2024. 

The Center will continue to share project results on our website, at conferences, and through publications to ensure that future research about girls and women with ADHD is informed by girls and women with ADHD!

Dr. Julia Schechter
Center Co-Director 

Dr. Naomi Davis
Internal Advisory Board

Dr. Jessica Lunsford-Avery
Internal Advisory Board

Center Co-Director, Dr. Julia Schechter, and Internal Advisory Board members,
Drs. Naomi Davis and Jessica Lunsford-Avery, received funding from the Translating Duke Health Children's Health & Discovery Initiative to study rates of ADHD diagnosis and treatment for North Carolina children. Using Medicaid claims data, the researchers aim to understand inequities in identifying and treating ADHD in girls in the state. Researchers will examine factors such as children’s race and ethnicity and where children live (e.g., rural or urban areas) to understand different patterns of ADHD diagnosis and treatment. This information will help identify ADHD care needs in North Carolina, such as areas for provider and patient support, as well as inform state policies. 

“ADHD Chronicles: Beyond the Diagnosis,” is a media project created to spotlight the unique stories of women living with ADHD. By highlighting the daily experiences, challenges, and successes that women with ADHD face, the project aims to increase the public’s understanding of ADHD in women and positively impact the lives of others on their own ADHD journeys.

Historically, the stories of women with ADHD have not been heard or have received less attention than those of boys and men with ADHD. This has contributed to referral biases and limited assessment and treatment options. Amplifying the lived experiences of women with ADHD is one step towards addressing these issues. 

The Center is primarily funded through private philanthropy from individuals and foundations. We invite you to partner with us through a one-time or recurring donation. 

Your contribution directly supports key initiatives and increases our ability to make a transformative difference for girls and women and their families.

Make a donation here. Contact Emily Espenshade to learn more.