How to Recognize Girls With ADHD Plus A 12 Symptom Checklist for Identifying ADHD Girls

For years ADHD has been perceived as a condition primarily reserved for those troublemaking

boys that are constantly harassing their teachers and fellow students. But while boys with ADHD are still in the majority girls with ADHD are gaining fast. In fact, the ratio has plummeted from 10 to 1 all the way down to 3 to 1 in the last 5 years.

The main reason girls with ADHD had been overlooked, and to a certain degree still are, has a lot to do with the stark differences in how attention deficit hyperactivity disorder presents itself in each gender. Let's look at a couple of case scenarios that can help us gain a better understanding of these differences.

Madison is in the 6th grade, and both her parents and teachers have seen glimpses of brilliance academically, but despite that she remains a very average student. She likes to sit at the back of the class so that her endless daydreaming won't be noticed. Though Madison has the best of intentions her assignments often end up unfinished, lost, or misplaced only to found a couple of weeks later. Her parents are concerned but believe that she will simply grow out of this daydreaming absentminded phase, after all they both struggled with these symptoms when they were her age.

Little Johnny is that 6th grade student that most elementary school teaches hate to see coming. One teacher claimed that Johnny caused his hair to turn gray and is responsible for getting him addicted to sleeping pills. Johnny is constantly tapping his pencil in class, shouting out answers to questions that haven't been asked yet, and making constant request to go to the bathroom or throw some garbage in the trash. When asked a question he responds with that deer in the headlights look and then rattles off some comment that disrupts the classroom. Johnny's time is pretty much spent equally in class and in the principal's office. His grades are awful and his parents are concerned if things don't improve he will drop out if he is lucky enough to advance into high school.

As you can see the differences are stark. One is a disruptive hyperactive troublemaker while the other is well behavior sweet darling who just hasn't quite learned how to stay focused.

Madison may drift through school aimlessly with no one ever knowing that she is facing the uphill academic and social battles associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

In many ways this is an example of the squeaky wheel getting the oil. Girls with ADHD may talk too much sometimes but generally speaking are not troublemakers.

Another problem for girls with ADHD is that the vast majority of research studies have been conducted on boys, thus reinforcing much of the diagnostic criteria that has caused girls with ADHD to be overlooked. This may explain why boys are generally diagnosed around the age of 7 while girls are typically diagnosed five years later at the age of 12.

If you are a parent gathering information about girls with ADHD there are a couple of other important points you should know.

*It is likely that your child may have the inattentive type of attention deficit disorder with symptoms becoming much worse during the high school years where more is asked of them both academically and socially.

*If your child happens be classified as hyperactive/impulsive she may be very social, overly chatty, interrupt others, and blurt out words before thinking about their possible impact on others.

Summary of twelve possible indicators of girls with ADHD; Inattentive, short attention span, struggles completing projects, easily distracted, struggles with organization, gets upset easily, verbally impulsive, verbally intrusive, overly chatty, doesn't manage time well, careless, and slow to process directions or other information.

How to Recognize Girls With ADHD Plus A 12 Symptom Checklist for Identifying ADHD Girls

By: Rob D. Hawkins

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