In fact, the biggest myth about ADHD and girls is that girls don’t have the disorder in the first place. However, ADHD affects both genders at roughly the same rate – Stephanie Sarkis.
Boys with ADHD tend to have a more obvious and classic presentation. They typically exhibit hyperactivity and impulsivity. In short, they stand out more.
Females, however, are harder to spot because they internalize their symptoms and usually don’t exhibit behavioral problems at school, says Matlen, the author of Survival Tips for Women with AD/HD.
Females “are more likely to daydream; staring out the window, twisting their hair.” Others may see them as airheads, label them as lazy or a poor student who is not trying hard enough.
“Parents hear, ‘If she would only try harder. She has the ability [but] she just chooses not to use it.” ADHD has nothing to do with laziness or lack of effort.
Quite the opposite, “these girls are bright students who are simply very distracted by their rich, inner lives.”
“Females with ADHD are generally not diagnosed until much later if they are smart, if they have structure and support from family [and] if they are inattentive,” according to Sari Solden, LMFT, a psychotherapist and author of Women with Attention Deficit Disorder and Journeys Through ADDulthood.
In fact, diagnosis may not occur until college or when they start working or have a family. This is because these girls try to overcompensate by overworking.
“At some point they hit a wall and are unable to meet the increased demands on their attention or executive functioning, [and] their compensations break down.” Still, even then, their ADHD may remain undiagnosed.
Solden notes that because these girls’ symptoms do not fit the typical ADHD profile, they often receive a diagnosis of “the resulting depression and anxiety.”
Myths About Girls with ADHD
Here are three more myths followed by the facts.
1. Myth: If girls do have ADHD, they only have the inattentive type.
Fact: The inattentive type of ADHD does seem to be more common in females. But, “they are out there!” “They can present as “tomboys,” as they cartwheel their way to school and climb trees after school”
Socialization may explain why girls don’t exhibit hyperactivity in the classroom. According to Sarkis, “It is thought that one reason girls exhibit less hyperactivity in class may not have to do with the disorder itself – rather, some girls have been socially conditioned to speak out less in class and be less ‘disruptive.” Matlen agreed. “Society allows for girls to be passive and quiet.”
It’s also important to note that “[inattentive] girls suffer as much as hyperactive boys who, with their external behaviors, make it more noticeable to school staff and parents.”
2. Myth: Girls with the inattentive type of ADHD don’t need stimulants.
Fact: Many medical professionals think that stimulants only treat hyperactivity. However, stimulants can help with symptoms of inattention and distractibility. Treating any disorder with medication requires careful consideration. But it’s important for parents and practitioners to know that stimulants can successfully treat these very disruptive symptoms.
3. Myth: Girls are less likely to have oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) than boys.
Fact: According to Sarkis, there is actually a 50% rate of co-occurrence between ODD and ADHD. And “that rate is the same regardless of gender.” For instance, she cites this study, which found no gender differences for ODD – and no differences for general anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, dysthymia and separation anxiety disorder.
Warning Signs in Girls with ADHD
Because symptoms manifest differently in girls, Matlen shares several warning signs to look for:
At school, girls might excessively daydream; have poor grades even though they’re capable of better work; and forget or not finish assignments, especially projects that have many parts. Hyperactive girls might exhibit “Chatty Cathy” behaviors, such as “non-stop talking and bossiness.”
Girls might also have few friends and be described as “loners.” They might easily tune out, have a messy bedroom and experience more emotional outbursts than kids their age. They’re also more likely to “feel overwhelmed and internalize that into anxiety [and] fears.”
While there’s been much progress in understanding and treating girls with ADHD, there’s still more work to be done. Whether you’re a teacher, parent or mental health professional, getting educated on how this disorder manifests in girls can help you provide truly helpful support.
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