Signs of ADHD in Girls

A girl with ADHD has the same condition as a boy with ADHD, although it may sometimes present differently.

Some of the core symptoms of ADHD include:

• inattention or distractibility
• restless energy
• talking too much or too fast
• forgetfulness or losing items
• making careless mistakes
• time management challenges
• difficulties with executive functioning like organization and planning

There are three different types of ADHD:

1. inattentive
2. hyperactive-impulsive type
3. combined type

In 2019 research, girls have been found to be more likely to have the inattentive type of ADHD. That means they may be more likely to have symptoms like forgetfulness and short attention span.

In general, girls with ADHD have more internalized behaviors. In other words, they may be more likely to blame themselves for their symptoms.

This can lead to a higher rate of co-occurring conditions like depression. Males, on the other hand, are more likely to have externalizing behaviors leading to co-occurring diagnoses like oppositional defiant disorder.

Boys are at least twice as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. Some reports state that girls are up to 16 times less likely to receive diagnosis and treatment. These numbers don’t mean that girls are less likely to have ADHD, but rather that girls are less likely to receive the correct diagnosis and treatment.

There are several different factors that contribute to this.

More inattentiveness

First, girls are more likely to have the inattentive subtype of ADHD.

Many adults are misinformed about how ADHD presents, and may only know about hyperactive symptoms.

When a boy with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD constantly interrupts or gets out of his seat in class, teachers and parents may wonder if he has ADHD. But a girl with inattentive ADHD, who forgets her homework, may simply be labeled as “spacey.”

Hyperactive symptoms also tend to be more disruptive to others than inattentive symptoms.

On top of this, girls are also more likely to internalize their symptoms — which means less acting out, and more emotional difficulties on the inside.

Lingering assumptions

Society still stigmatizes ADHD as a “boys’ condition,” and this implicit bias may cause girls to be underdiagnosed regardless of symptoms.

In an older study from 2004, teachers were more likely to refer fake student profiles to ADHD treatment if the “student” was a boy than if they were a girl. This was true even when the symptoms and descriptions listed on the profiles were exactly the same apart from sex.

Girls mask ADHD more

Girls are more likely to compensate for their ADHD symptoms than boys are. Many ADHD symptoms go against how girls are expected to behave in society, even today. For example, a boy may get away with being disorganized, but girls are often expected to be neat and orderly.

This often leads girls to try to hide or mask their ADHD symptoms. For example, they may try to develop close relationships with their teachers to make up for feeling like they’re falling behind at school.

Consequences of ADHD for girls

Living with ADHD can be a challenge. But when ADHD is undiagnosed and untreated (like it is for so many girls), life could be even more difficult.

Girls with undiagnosed ADHD may turn to internalizing behaviors. They may blame themselves for shortcomings like poor academic performance. Older research from 2018 shows that girls with ADHD are more likely to have:

• low self-esteem
• co-occurring mental health conditions like depression and anxiety

According to 2020 research, some other consequences of ADHD in girls include:

• vulnerability to bullying
• higher rate of school dropout
• sexually active at an earlier age
• high-consequence activities and more accidents
• employment problems as an adult
• self-harm
• higher rate of substance use disorder
• emotional dysregulation problems

Many of these risks are prevalent for boys with ADHD as well. For example, both boys and girls with ADHD experience a comparable risk of developing substance use disorder. However, girls are more vulnerable to many of these things, including low self-esteem, bullying, and emotional difficulties.

ADHD is a highly treatable condition, and certain treatment methods (like stimulant medication) have been found to be extremely effective. Both boys and girls with ADHD can go on to live successful, happy, and fulfilling adult lives if their symptoms are well-managed.

Some of the most common treatment types for ADHD include:

• stimulant medications
• behavior therapy
• parent management training
• non-stimulant medications

Treatment isn’t based on whether the child is a girl or a boy, but on the child’s individual symptoms. You can tell your child’s prescribing physician about all your concerns, and they can work together with you to find the best treatment option for your kid.

If you suspect your kid may have ADHD, then it’s important to get them evaluated for a diagnosis and next steps. Without the correct diagnosis, your girl may go through life not understanding why they feel so different from peers. She may start to blame herself, and develop low self-esteem.

ADHD in girls is highly misunderstood. But with the correct diagnosis and treatment, kids with ADHD can become happy, fulfilled, and successful adults. Getting an evaluation is the first step.