ADHD in Women: Later-Life Diagnosis, Hormones, and Practical OT Support In this episode, Valerie from Allied Care Connect speaks with Lauren McDonald, occupational therapist and owner of OT2U Limited in Calgary, about ADHD in women, especially when diagnosis happens later in life. They unpack why ADHD is often missed in girls and women, how life transitions can reveal symptoms, and how occupational therapy can help people build systems that fit their real lives. The conversation also covers entrepreneurship, hormone-related shifts, common misconceptions about ADHD, and the PINCH framework for making tasks easier to start and complete. Lauren’s ACC profile: https://alliedcareconnect.ca/professional/lauren-mcdonald Instagram: @ot.2u https://ot2u.ca/ ## Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Lauren McDonald and the episode focus on ADHD in women 01:14 - Why Lauren chose occupational therapy 03:05 - The signs that often prompt a later-life ADHD realization 05:12 - Why overwhelm is such a common trigger for seeking support 07:14 - How entrepreneurship can amplify ADHD challenges and strengths 09:16 - ADHD and entrepreneurship rates, plus why founders often see themselves in the diagnosis 10:15 - Why ADHD is often missed in girls and women 13:54 - How hormones and cycle changes can intensify ADHD symptoms 16:30 - OT strategies for planning around capacity and energy shifts 19:20 - Common client goals in occupational therapy for ADHD 23:29 - The PINCH framework: passion, interest, novelty, challenge, hurry 26:40 - How occupational therapy can support business owners who suspect ADHD 31:37 - Common misconceptions about occupational therapy 34:53 - Why ADHD is not just a trend 39:10 - Why ADHD is not laziness and why executive function matters 41:07 - How diagnosis and therapy can build self-compassion 42:42 - Where to find Lauren and OT2U, plus free consult information Resources: PINCH Framework: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/working-with-your-interest-based-nervous-system/ PINCH framework - Passion, Interest, Novelty, Challenge, Hurry - Used to make tasks more engaging for people with ADHD - Highlights that ADHD is often more responsive to interest than to importance alone Hormone Studies: 1. Ashley G. Eng, Urveesha Nirjar, Anjeli R. Elkins, Yancey J. Sizemore, Krystina N. Monticello, Madeline K. Petersen, Sarah A. Miller, Jordan Barone, Tory A. Eisenlohr-Moul, Michelle M. Martel, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and the menstrual cycle: Theory and evidence, Hormones and Behavior, Volume 158,2024,105466, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0018506X23001642 2. de Jong M, Wynchank DSMR, van Andel E, Beekman ATF, Kooij JJS. Female-specific pharmacotherapy in ADHD: premenstrual adjustment of psychostimulant dosage. Front Psychiatry. 2023 Dec 13;14:1306194. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1306194. PMID: 38152361; PMCID: PMC10751335. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38152361/ 3. Kooij JJS, de Jong M, Agnew-Blais J, Amoretti S, Bang Madsen K, Barclay I, Bölte S, Borg Skoglund C, Broughton T, Carucci S, van Dijken DKE, Ernst J, French B, Frick MA, Galera C, Groenman AP, Kopp Kallner H, Kerner Auch Koerner J, Kittel-Schneider S, Manor I, Martin J, Matera E, Parlatini V, Philipsen A, Ramos-Quiroga JA, Rapoport IL, Remnélius KL, Sénéquier A, Thorell L, Wittekoek JME, Wynchank D. Research advances and future directions in female ADHD: the lifelong interplay of hormonal fluctuations with mood, cognition, and disease. Front Glob Womens Health. 2025 Jul 7;6:1613628. doi: 10.3389/fgwh.2025.1613628. PMID: 40692967; PMCID: PMC12277363. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40692967/
