ADHD in girls
Many people think of rowdy little boys when they think of ADHD. They think of the hyperactivity and impulsivity part of ADHD. And while that certainly is a type of ADHD, many people (especially girls!) have the other type of ADHD: inattentive ADHD. Girls with the inattentive type of ADHD may “fly under the radar”. They may be falsely assumed to be “spacey” or “just not that academic”.
Girls are less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, compared to boys, and this means that they are also less likely to get the help that they need. Additionally, most ADHD research has focused on boys, which means that we know very little about how gender may influence response to medication and other types of treatment. Girls with ADHD are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, distress, poor teacher relationships, and problems in school, compared to girls without ADHD.
Why is it important that girls with ADHD receive a diagnosis? With the correct ADHD diagnosis and treatment, these girls do better in school and have better relationships with peers, parents, and siblings. Additionally (and this is huge!) they have better self-esteem when they are succeeding socially and academically.
While boys with ADHD may be diagnosed in early elementary school due to hyperactivity and impulsivity that is disrupting the classroom, girls with the inattentive type of ADHD may go undiagnosed until fourth grade or even later. As demands for sustained attention increase in the later elementary school years, children who are having trouble with attention and focus may finally get diagnosed. However, with increased awareness of how ADHD presents in girls, girls can get the correct diagnosis and treatment sooner, before their academic and social lives suffer.
What should you look for if you have concerns that your child may have ADHD? Think about if your child has trouble concentrating, difficulty with organization, and/or is easily distracted, compared to other children her age. Additionally, do you notice these behaviors in more than one setting, such as at home and at school? Are these behaviors making it hard for your child to function, e.g. to be successful in school? Signs that your child may have the inattentive type of ADHD include: frequent episodes where she appears to be daydreaming/not paying attention, losing items (lunchboxes, pencils, books) frequently, and having trouble following directions (especially multi-step directions), seeming to be easily distracted, messy, and frequently making careless mistakes in schoolwork.
If you have concerns, make an appointment to talk with your child’s pediatrician about this. Your pediatrician may have you and your child’s teacher fill out some ratings scales prior to the visit. This information is really helpful in considering an ADHD diagnosis. Your pediatrician will also talk with you and your child about your concerns and what you are noticing, and will want to know how school, home, and extracurricular activities are going. If you would like to learn more about ADHD, there are some great resources out there! My favorites include the book “ADHD: What Every Parent Needs to Know” by Dr. Mark Wolraich and Dr. Joseph Hagan, and the Understood.org website. Additudemag.com is another great website, as is the CHADD website. If your child is struggling at school, talking with your pediatrician is a great place to start. Your pediatrician will carefully consider many diagnoses, including ADHD. A correct diagnosis means that you are then able to get effective treatment, and while navigating these steps takes time and can seem stressful, the improvement that you will see in your child’s school achievement and social connections and self-esteem make it all worth it!
