Consider that while the symptoms of ADHD were first identified back in 1798, it wasn’t until the 1990s that science began to study how ADHD presents in girls and how it might be affecting them.

Nam Kiwanuka speaks to writer Carla Ciccone, who became one of the growing numbers of women to be diagnosed with ADHD during the pandemic. She speaks to her about the challenges she felt in school as a young child and why she wrote the book “Nowhere Girl: Life as a Member of ADHD's Lost Generation”.

Got a question or comment? Email us at: mistreatedpodcast@tvo.org

If you, or someone you know, is struggling with mental health, visit any of the following resources for support: Canada.ca/mental-health

Kids Help Phone Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868.

The Government of Ontario's Mental Health Support Resources: https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-mental-health-support

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https://www.instagram.com/mistreatedtvo

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Research links

How ADHD Shaped My Life Without Me Knowing It: https://www.elle.com/culture/books/a65994230/nowhere-girls-book-excerpt-women-adhd-2025

The “devastating” findings of a decades-long ADHD study: https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/hyperfocus/the-devastating-findings-of-a-decades-long-adhd-study

The history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3000907

Children with ADHD Avoid Failure and Punishment More Than Others, Study Says: https://www.additudemag.com/children-with-adhd-avoid-failure-punishment/?srsltid=AfmBOorSMFFUiJhgFMZ00QNIHdj4V63WDJfrC3o7jgSKOqkF604tYl-1

The History of ADHD: A Timeline: https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/history#1902

Does ADHD Need a New Name?: https://www.additudemag.com/other-names-for-adhd-add/?srsltid=AfmBOoqhu7TMDAktkX9L6iyuBVwg7eoXjHvER_bZZ0MMixwlC7kF9Adr

Miss. Diagnosis: A Systematic Review of ADHD in Adult Women: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10870547231161533#:~:text=There%20is%20also%20gender%20bias%20in%20the,participants%20being%20male%20and%20only%2019%25%20female

What Lies Behind the Rise in ADHD Diagnoses?: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/brain-curiosities/202505/the-truth-about-the-adhd-epidemic

ADHD in Women vs. Men: Does Gender Play a Role in Symptoms?: https://psychcentral.com/adhd/adhd-and-gender#prevalence

Obstetric complications in mothers with ADHD: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/reproductive-health/articles/10.3389/frph.2022.1040824/full

Screening for Adult ADHD in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: https://academic.oup.com/painmedicine/article-abstract/19/9/1825/4584482?redirectedFrom=PDF

Life expectancy and years of life lost for adults with diagnosed ADHD in the UK: matched cohort study: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/life-expectancy-and-years-of-life-lost-for-adults-with-diagnosed-adhd-in-the-uk-matched-cohort-study/30B8B109DF2BB33CC51F72FD1C953739

Consider that while the symptoms of ADHD were first identified back in 1798, it wasn&rsquo;t until the 1990s that science began to study how ADHD presents in girls and how it might be affecting them.
Nam Kiwanuka speaks to writer Carla Ciccone, who became one of the growing numbers of women to be diagnosed with ADHD during the pandemic. She speaks to her about the challenges she felt in school as a young child and why she wrote the book &ldquo;Nowhere Girl: Life as a Member of ADHD's Lost Generation&rdquo;.
Got a question or comment? Email us at: <a href="mailto:mistreatedpodcast@tvo.org">mistreatedpodcast@tvo.org</a>
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with mental health, visit any of the following resources for support: Canada.ca/mental-health
Kids Help Phone Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868.
The Government of Ontario's Mental Health Support Resources: <a href="https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-mental-health-support">https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-mental-health-support</a>
Follow TVO on social: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/theagenda">https://www.youtube.com/theagenda</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mistreatedtvo">https://www.instagram.com/mistreatedtvo</a>
Join our newsletter: <a href="https://www.tvo.org/newsletters">https://www.tvo.org/newsletters</a>
Visit the TVO Today website for current affairs journalism, documentaries and podcasts: <a href="https://www.tvo.org">https://www.tvo.org</a>
Research links
How ADHD Shaped My Life Without Me Knowing It:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.elle.com/culture/books/a65994230/nowhere-girls-book-excerpt-women-adhd-2025">https://www.elle.com/culture/books/a65994230/nowhere-girls-book-excerpt-women-adhd-2025</a>
The &ldquo;devastating&rdquo; findings of a decades-long ADHD study:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/hyperfocus/the-devastating-findings-of-a-decades-long-adhd-study">https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/hyperfocus/the-devastating-findings-of-a-decades-long-adhd-study</a>
The history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder:<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3000907">&nbsp;https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3000907</a>
Children with ADHD Avoid Failure and Punishment More Than Others, Study Says:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.additudemag.com/children-with-adhd-avoid-failure-punishment/?srsltid=AfmBOorSMFFUiJhgFMZ00QNIHdj4V63WDJfrC3o7jgSKOqkF604tYl-1">https://www.additudemag.com/children-with-adhd-avoid-failure-punishment/?srsltid=AfmBOorSMFFUiJhgFMZ00QNIHdj4V63WDJfrC3o7jgSKOqkF604tYl-1</a>
The History of ADHD: A Timeline:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/history#1902">https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/history#1902</a>
Does ADHD Need a New Name?:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.additudemag.com/other-names-for-adhd-add/?srsltid=AfmBOoqhu7TMDAktkX9L6iyuBVwg7eoXjHvER_bZZ0MMixwlC7kF9Adr">https://www.additudemag.com/other-names-for-adhd-add/?srsltid=AfmBOoqhu7TMDAktkX9L6iyuBVwg7eoXjHvER_bZZ0MMixwlC7kF9Adr</a>
Miss. Diagnosis: A Systematic Review of ADHD in Adult Women: <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10870547231161533#:~:text=There%20is%20also%20gender%20bias%20in%20the,participants%20being%20male%20and%20only%2019%25%20female">https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10870547231161533#:~:text=There%20is%20also%20gender%20bias%20in%20the,participants%20being%20male%20and%20only%2019%25%20female</a>
What Lies Behind the Rise in ADHD Diagnoses?: <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/brain-curiosities/202505/the-truth-about-the-adhd-epidemic">https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/brain-curiosities/202505/the-truth-about-the-adhd-epidemic</a>
ADHD in Women vs. Men: Does Gender Play a Role in Symptoms?:&nbsp;<a href="https://psychcentral.com/adhd/adhd-and-gender#prevalence">https://psychcentral.com/adhd/adhd-and-gender#prevalence</a>
Obstetric complications in mothers with ADHD:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/reproductive-health/articles/10.3389/frph.2022.1040824/full">https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/reproductive-health/articles/10.3389/frph.2022.1040824/full</a>
Screening for Adult ADHD in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome:&nbsp;<a href="https://academic.oup.com/painmedicine/article-abstract/19/9/1825/4584482?redirectedFrom=PDF">https://academic.oup.com/painmedicine/article-abstract/19/9/1825/4584482?redirectedFrom=PDF</a>
Life expectancy and years of life lost for adults with diagnosed ADHD in the UK: matched cohort study:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/life-expectancy-and-years-of-life-lost-for-adults-with-diagnosed-adhd-in-the-uk-matched-cohort-study/30B8B109DF2BB33CC51F72FD1C953739">https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/life-expectancy-and-years-of-life-lost-for-adults-with-diagnosed-adhd-in-the-uk-matched-cohort-study/30B8B109DF2BB33CC51F72FD1C953739</a>

(MIS)Treated, a TVO podcast, explores how medicine has – and still is – failing women and speaks to the people looking to make a difference. Join host Nam Kiwanuka to hear real life stories and expert interviews on how the mistreatment and misdiagnosis of women affects us all.

(MIS)Treated, a TVO podcast, explores how medicine has &ndash; and still is &ndash; failing women and speaks to the people looking to make a difference. Join host Nam Kiwanuka to hear real life stories and expert interviews on how the mistreatment and misdiagnosis of women affects us all.