By Maggie Baring
Around 2% of children in the UK experience the neurodevelopmental condition of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, more commonly known as ADHD. The male to female ratio of diagnosis is 3:1, despite studies showing that ADHD is just as common in females as males. Women tend to be diagnosed at a later stage of adolescence, unlike men who are often diagnosed in childhood. I asked Ellen, a member of the exec of ADHShe (a Durham-based charity and society working with the neurodivergent community), why this was the case.
Ellen was diagnosed with ADHD aged fifteen which, she says, is a pretty common diagnosis age for girls. She tells me that female symptoms are more internal: for example, inattention, disorganisation and emotional regulation difficulties. These are symptoms which girls become adept at masking, whilst hyperactivity and impulsivity are more common in men. ADHShe, which was set up last year and has been taken up by Ellen and her team, was created in response to the university’s frustrating lack of support for the neurodivergent student community. Their focus is to help support the female ADHD community in particular. Ellen herself tells of the ‘alienating’ experience of being a woman with ADHD, especially when studying at university; often feeling overwhelmed by work, struggling to keep a consistent routine, or worrying about seeming lazy.
The society, since its creation, has formed a community and introduced a programme to help its members which Ellen is incredibly proud of, and rightly so. This includes study sessions in the Library every Monday using the technique of “body doubling” (a partnered learning process that aids productivity and concentration in a positive reinforcement cycle). They are also holding an eclectic variety of socials, and are planning the introduction of an ADHD audio-therapy software programme created by the company, Stimuli. The society continues to seek out collaborations with feminist societies to increase its outreach, with a partnership scheduled with Women in Business in the upcoming term.
In other cases, this love for the creative fields can be taken further than simple relaxation purposes. Asha is a member of ADHShe who has recently been made Music Director of the 2024 DUCFS fashion show. Her love for music began from a very young age, growing up around her father’s taste for 80s pop, including ‘ABBA’ and ‘Wheatus’. She began DJing around 16; listening to ‘GirlsDon’tSync’ (one of the members, G33, she met at a workshop a year later) and ‘Jungle’ and being encouraged by her friends who saw that she had a gift in her musical taste. Asha was diagnosed with ADHD only five months ago, despite having a father who is a psychiatrist, such was her ability to mask her symptoms. She has found the recent diagnosis extremely helpful and enlightening: “I give myself more compassion if I’m struggling to keep up with deadlines, complete simple chores such as laundry (for ADHDers this is the worst one), attend lectures or even maintain friendships”.
Links have been made between those with ADHD and a love for music, as the structure of music has been known to help focus. Music such as house and garage, without lyrics, (music which Asha herself enjoys), is especially effective in this way. Asha laughs, adding that she can never be found without her headphones: “I find my life boring and dull if I don’t have my headphones with me”. Her love and talent for music has led her to meet incredibly creative people and earn positions within university organisations (such as DUCFS and nightclub DJing events) which are highly impressive and sought after. Asha’s creative flair proves yet again that neurodivergence ought to be celebrated within society; producing deeply creative people who see the world in a different light.
ADHShe’s door is open to anyone who might be struggling with their ADHD at university, no matter their gender. They are a safe space and a community on campus where one can meet like minded individuals and cultivate new friendships.
For more information, follow their Instagram account: adhshe.durham.