ADHD and Girls
For every three boys diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), one girl receives the diagnosis. Does that mean ADHD is primarily a boy problem?
Most of the research about ADHD has focused on boys, but experts now believe that ADHD may affect just as many girls as boys, but that girls are being under-diagnosed because they display different symptoms. While boys tend to be hyperactive or impulsive, girls may be more likely to be inattentive. Even though they may be less disruptive in the classroom or easier to manage at home, girls may still be suffering with ADHD.
Common symptoms of ADHD in girls include:
- Forgetfulness
- Being easily distracted
- Losing or misplacing things
- Struggling to stay organized or complete assignments or tasks
- Underperforming at school
- Difficulty concentrating
- Poor attention to detail
Without treatment, the inattentive type of ADHD can present the same problems as the hyperactive-impulsive and combination forms of ADHD. Problems at school often lead to poor grades, low self-esteem and even dropping out. Girls with ADHD are also more likely than boys with ADHD to abuse drugs or alcohol and have other mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety disorders.
If a child displays signs of inattention, awkwardness, clumsiness, poor balance or delayed skills development, they need to be evaluated by a mental health professional and, when appropriate, treated for ADHD. Girls respond well to the same behavioral treatments and medications as boys with ADHD, and have made tremendous strides in behavior modification programs and camps for children with ADHD.
