ADHD Looks Different in Girls

ADHD looks different in girls as compared to boys. Savannah explained, “My 13-year-old daughter’s a wreck at home. She is disorganized, argumentative and has trouble accomplishing day to day tasks on her own and following a routine.  However, at school and sports she is very driven and motivated, is very personable, and has strong verbal skills. Help me understand her!”  My school neuropsychological testing revealed Savannah’s daughter had ADHD.

ADHD Looks Different in Girls: Three Differences

Three key differences are that ADHD in girls is often under diagnosed or misdiagnosed because they are more likely to have inattention symptoms rather than hyperactivity. In elementary years boys are diagnosed at a 4 boys to 1 girl ratio but by adulthood, that evens out to a 1:1 ratio as more girls self-refer for testing.  Second, girls show more internalized symptoms like anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem, which can be mistaken for other conditions. Third, girls are really good at masking or hiding their symptoms which makes ADHD harder to recognize.

Savannah’s daughter had significant emotional dysregulation which came out in her mood swings.  She experienced frequent emotional ups and downs and struggled with frustration which made her irritable and sensitive. This led to arguments if things were not going her way.  My testing also revealed she had difficulty with friendships.  Her emotional dysregulation struggles affected her ability to maintain stable friendships. She had teammates but no one really close friend.

Early Support is Key

Early recognition and appropriate support can help girls learn to manage these challenges effectively. Consider getting yourself or your child tested if you are concerned about ADHD or struggle with difficulty focusing, forgetfulness, zoning out, trouble with organizing, impulsive decision making, or emotional dysregulation.

A great self-help resource is “Raising Girls with ADHD” by Mary Anne Richey.  We test students from age two through college for ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, depression autism, and more. Call us at (561) 625 4125 to discuss your needs.