ADHD in women: Know the signs

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- October is ADHD Awareness Month. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders affecting children, but experts believe it's underdiagnosed in women.

There are surprising signs of ADHD that women specifically can struggle with that experts say are often overlooked -- and even dismissed.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Jeffrey James said signs of ADHD presents differently in women.

ADHD affects executive function like focus, self control and emotional management.

People can have one or both ADHD subtypes: one causes inattention in women, and the second is hyperactivity and impulsivity.

Signs of inattention include constantly moving or displacing thing, having trouble being focused, being easily distracted and routinely forgetting things.

Hyperactivity can be seen through frequent fidgeting, constant interrupting, trouble being patient or restlessness.

There may also be rejection sensitivity, procrastination and large emotions.

"On the surface, it might look to a lot of people that they're doing really well, and they are, but it doesn't show how difficult it is to maintain that," James said.