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When most people first think about ADHD, they picture a hyperactive child who is unable to sit still – and displays disruptive, challenging behaviours. However, girls are also affected by ADHD. And in many cases, the condition looks starkly different to how it looks in boys.

To understand more about the signs of ADHD in girls, and why it’s so misunderstood, we chatted to our child psychologist, Catherine Eldridge.

What is ADHD – and how does it present in girls?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common condition, often found in children.

It impacts one’s ability to pay attention or control impulsive behaviours. Children with ADHD may also struggle with being overly active.

Typically, when people think of ADHD, they imagine a disruptive child who can’t focus – or struggles with outburst of frustration. But that mental image is much more characteristic of ADHD in boys.

For girls? ADHD can present quite differently.

Girls with ADHD can:

• Be easily distracted: Her homework may take a long time or appear impossible to complete.
• Often forget things: She might struggle to remember something you’ve told her a million times – or lack organisational skills.
• Experience friendship difficulties: She may lack social cues and find it difficult to follow conversations.
• Be chatter boxes: She may talk a thousand miles a minute, appearing to have not planned her words before she speaks.
• Swing between not finishing projects to being hyper-focused: She may lack attention in certain areas – yet demonstrate hyper focus in others (but only for short periods of time).
• Be hypersensitive: Major mood swings may occur due to her being unable to control her emotions. What seems like a trivial issue may trigger hypersensitivity for her.
• Experience low self-esteem and be at greater risk of depression: If ADHD is untreated, girls can often blame themselves or believe they are less than their peers. This also predisposes girls with ADHD to experience traits of depression and anxiety.

Why is ADHD so misunderstood in girls?

ADHD has typically been understood as children fidgeting, unable to sit still, or disrupting their classroom.

However, these are attributes of the hyper-impulsive ADHD – most commonly found in boys.

What many people don’t understand is that there are three forms of ADHD: Hyper-impulsive, inattentive, and a combination of the two.

This inattentive form of ADHD is typically found in girls. It’s expressed more internally, making it harder for parents and teachers to recognise it.

Due to the inward nature of the inattentive form of ADHD, there’s also a lack of research. This means that girls are either misdiagnosed – or undiagnosed – for their condition.

In fact, research indicates that boys are up to 10 times more likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis compared to girls.

How is ADHD treated in girls?

If you suspect your daughter has ADHD, start by consulting a professional who specialises in this area. This might be a psychologist, GP or paediatrician.

They’ll conduct an assessment to determine if an ADHD diagnosis is appropriate.

Then, if your daughter does receive a diagnosis, it’s worth talking to the professional about the role of medication and the different options.

As an alternative – or in addition to – medication, therapy may also be helpful. A psychologist can offer CBT therapy and behavioural strategies to help your daughter develop skills to manage her ADHD.

While the ADHD treatment does not differ vastly between boys and girls, it’s important you work with a psychologist who specifically understands ADHD in girls. This way, they’ll incorporate the unique challenges and nuances of ADHD in girls into the treatment plan.

What are the impacts of undiagnosed ADHD in girls?

Failing to identify and address ADHD early in girls can leave them with a lack of self-regulation and self-management later on.

She may also have ongoing social struggles – and feelings of depression, anxiety and low self-worth.

By understanding the signs of ADHD in girls and treating it early, we can ensure they have access to the support they need to focus, apply themselves academically and build their confidence.

While we may have let girls with ADHD down in the past, the time is now to change that.

Through opening the dialogue and equipping ourselves with the right knowledge, we can ensure girls with ADHD get the resources and support they deserve.