Three months ago, I received a letter apologising for the delay in addressing my ADHD diagnosis, with a three-year wait and an expectancy of an extra year (a goal post that keeps moving further). In the meantime, I am rediscovering myself and relearning everything about my psychology—without access to NHS counselling or prescription medication. I am one of many women in the UK navigating delayed diagnoses.
With a recent wave of studies on ADHD in women, many are only now receiving diagnoses, having grown up unaware of how their minds work. This lack of awareness has led to lifelong struggles in education, social interactions and relationships. I asked experts for their insights on how technology can streamline access to diagnoses and treatment, reducing these delays for women with ADHD.
Dr Ross Harper, PhD and CEO of Limbic, said: “Conditions like ADHD and autism, in particular, are known to present differently in women, which leads to under-recognition and misdiagnosis. For example, ADHD in women may manifest as inattentiveness rather than hyperactivity—symptoms more commonly associated with men. Unfortunately, much of modern medicine is based on symptom presentation in men, which leaves many women suffering without the appropriate care they need. This is deeply unfair and calls for change.
“Technology can play a crucial role in driving that change. AI and digital tools have the capacity to analyse nuanced patterns in symptoms that are often overlooked, enabling earlier interventions and more accurate diagnoses. It’s time to leverage these advancements to close the gap and provide women with the mental healthcare they deserve. Fortunately, there are several startups, many founded by passionate women, working to address these issues head-on.”
One solution in the US by VAULT Technologies
According to SAMHSA, ‘service cost or lack of insurance coverage was the most frequently cited reason for not using mental health services across all racial/ethnic groups.’ Unfortunately, this challenge has intensified as some mental health providers, frustrated by insurance reimbursement issues, now require patients to pay upfront and then seek repayment from their insurance companies. With therapy sessions costing an average of US$120 per hour, low-income families face an impossible choice between mental health care and essential needs like housing or food.
In response, public health innovator Tiffany Tate has introduced a promising solution. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tate developed the PrepModEcosystem—a system of modular software programs tailored to streamline public health tasks—which became a leading tool in coordinating vaccine appointments across 44 states. Her company, VAULT Technologies, is now adapting this technology to address mental health accessibility by connecting low-income patients with providers who accept insurance or flexible payment options.
With VAULT’s new mental health application, low-income patients can be matched with mental health providers who offer alternative payment options, bypassing the upfront payment barrier. By using this innovative technology, Tate’s goal is to improve health equity in mental health services, making essential care more accessible to marginalised communities facing financial barriers.