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Late Diagnosis of ADHD in Adulthood

Tania Stephenson • 28 June 2023

For a great number of my clients, the above has been exactly the pathway that has brought them to

seek out additional support in the form of ADHD coaching. There is often a marked’ grief and relief’

experience which those getting a later in life diagnosis experience and their experience of coming to

terms with the diagnosis and what it can mean for them moving forward.

In the UK we still follow the DSM rating for an ADHD diagnosis which has historically been modelled

on the male demonstration of ADHD characteristics, even though we know that young girls with

ADHD can display markedly different symptoms, such as day dreaming rather than hyperactivity and

often, early onset of anxiety and depression.

We know also, that girls can mask behaviours and mirror their counterparts more successfully than

boys, which can cover up a large array of otherwise clear symptoms. However, the effort of this

masking to try to ‘fit in’ with what they perceive is expected behaviour, is exhausting and often

detrimental to their overall well-being. This means that many girls can miss out on a timely diagnosis

until their struggles become more enhanced later in life often at times of life stressor changes –

university, first jobs, motherhood, even as late as menopause.

Fortunately, awareness is becoming better in schools (although much work still needs to be done in

many) to help change the overall understanding of ADHD and other neurodivergences, but it is clear

that those who have been diagnosed, understood and supported from a young age often have a very

different experience of living with this than those who went undetected but continually struggled.

Fortunately, at whatever age of diagnosis, there is a huge positive impact that can come with

seeking additional support and being encouraged to not only seeing the challenges that can come

with a diagnosis, but also the potential benefits, of which there can be many and we explore this in

depth in coaching sessions as well as embracing what ADHD may mean for each individual, and

exploring ‘work arounds’ and understanding of their particular challenges.

Although we can’t change the past, we can certainly make great positive changes in the experience

of their future.


Challenge your mindset Change your life


Please share any experiences of your own ‘journey to diagnosis’ here, and anything that you may

have found to be a positive for you.

Sandon Gauvain Blog:

Access to work/ #ADHD / free #ADHDcoaching. #ADHDsupport / #accesstowork

by Tania Stephenson. • 11 July 2023
Many of my clients across the UK are currently using the Access To Work funding to cover the costs of their ADHD coaching which has been a lifeline for them in terms of support. Support can extend up to weekly sessions for over half a year and are tailored to the individual. My current clients using this scheme are in a range of occupations and backgrounds. Employers need to ensure neurodivergent staff are aware of this great resource. Access to Work is a UK government programme that provides support for people with a physical or mental health condition or disability to take up or stay at work. If you have ADHD, you could qualify for this support which could cover the costs of your coaching. To apply for Access To Work support, you will need to fill in an application and if accepted, go through an assessment process where the support you receive is tailored to you. You should be offered assistance to develop a support plan for your workplace – as any costs are initially paid for by your employer and then refunded from the government therefore, you will need to speak to your employer about your ADHD. What do you need to qualify for Access To Work? Access to Work does not require a diagnosis of ADHD for you to get assistance; however, having a diagnosis significantly helps as claims can be refused without. ADHD is listed as a mental health disability in the Mental Health Act (1990). To qualify for AccessTo Work support, you must fulfil the following five criteria:  Have a physical or mental health condition or disability that means you need support to do your job or get to and from work,  Be 16 or over  Be in paid work (or be about to start or return to paid work in the next 12 weeks), even when working from home.  Be employed or self-employed.  Live and work (or be about to start or return to work) in England, Scotland or Wales. You cannot get Access to Work if you live in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. There’s also a different system in Northern Ireland.
ADHD brain neurodivergent

Do you care about your workforce and your profit? #ADHD

by Tania Stephenson • 3 July 2023
Understanding ADHD in the workplace.
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