Thursday 27 June 2013

ADHD in Girls Often Goes Unnoticed – 6 Things To Look Out For.



Everybody knows that ADHD in boys is much more common and statistics seem to indicate that there are three times as many boys as girls who are suffering from this disorder.

But is that really true?  Actually, the fact that ADHD in girls manifests in several different ways means simply that the whole ADHD scenario is swept under the carpet or just simply goes unnoticed until the later teen years when trouble with keeping up with homework assignments makes it a bit more obvious. Alarmingly, the number of girls missed could be up to 75% of cases.

The boys with ADHD are much easier to observe especially as they seem to suffer more from the hyperactive type. That certainly makes it a whole lot more obvious.

In girls, however, their dreaminess and forgetfulness seems to fly under the radar. There is also some discrimination in that teachers seem to think that boys need more help with ADHD than girls.

If you think your daughter or female sibling has ADHD, there are some typical warning signs that may indicate that ADHD might be the cause. Being alert to these is very useful in getting as early a diagnosis as possible.





1.      She seems to need a lot more help with homework and expects you, the parent, to be always there to     help her out.
2.      She does not like going to school at all. There is no enthusiasm so this may be a warning sign although here could be other reasons.
3.       There is lots of evidence that she does not feel confident and there are lots of remarks which reflect that she has very low self esteem. She will often talk about the subjects she is not brilliant at.
4.      She has difficulty in making friends at school. She often displays anxiety about this although some girls become rather aggressive and tend to be domineering in order to hide their anxiety.
5.      Girls with ADHD also suffer from impulsivity but this may manifest itself in interrupting continuously in class. This may be more than just being a chatterbox.
6.      Girls withADHD are often more liable than other girls to be oversensitive and break down crying at the smallest thing. This is another sign of impulsivity in that she is finding it hard to keep emotions under control.  But it could also be a sign that she feels more vulnerable because of lack of social success or because of poor academic achievement.

If you are a teacher and have observed some of these traits among the girls in your classes, then it is time to approach the parents and find out what they are experiencing at home and if they have noticed any similar signs. This will be a great help in getting an early and accurate diagnosis.