Question
How do executive functioning deficits affect daily life for women with ADHD?
Answer
Executive functioning deficits in women with ADHD can significantly disrupt their ability to manage daily tasks that require planning, organization, and problem-solving. Activities that involve multiple steps, such as planning a trip or coordinating family logistics, can become overwhelming due to difficulties with sequential thinking, prioritization, and maintaining focus. These challenges often lead to both visible struggles, such as missed deadlines and disorganization, and invisible ones, including low self-esteem and social isolation. Understanding the specific executive functioning deficits a woman with ADHD experiences is crucial for designing effective interventions. By identifying these areas, strategies and coping mechanisms can be tailored to support her cognitive processes, enabling her to navigate daily demands more successfully and improve her quality of life. Additionally, recognizing and leveraging her strengths, such as creativity and quick thinking, can further enhance her functioning, especially in professional environments.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, 'ADHD and Women: Ethical and Practice Implications for Clinical Providers,' presented by Christina Marsack-Topolewski, PhD, MSW, LMSW.
