2008 ADHD Series

Historically, ADHD has been a male-dominated disorder. However, recent research indicates that just as many girls may have it. It’s believed that ADHD in girls is missed because girls don’t tend to be hyperactive. Instead, they tend to be inattentive, but perform adequately in school. Girls don’t begin to struggle in school until age 10 or older.

Four common types of ADHD in girls are: the shy, dreamy child; the chatty Cathy; the tomboy; and the moody child.

> Shy, dreamy girls with ADHD differ from normally shy girls in that the shyness is a reaction to a stressful situation.

> Chatty Cathys are truly uncontrolled motor-mouths. They jump from topic to topic and overwhelm listeners with talk.

> Tomboys are easier to diagnose with ADHD because they fit the traditional hyperactive, impulsive profile. Girls may even become involved in dangerous activities.

> Moody girl behavior can be the most frustrating for adults because girls are never satisfied. First, they ask for pizza, then insist they’ll accept nothing but a sandwich. Unlike normal childhood inflexibility, this dysphoric ADHD is present most of the time. Moody girls throw frequent tantrums and get easily upset over minor troubles.

Girls with ADHD tend to respond more severely to peer rejection than boys, which can lead to low self-esteem and depression. Fortunately, girls respond just as well as boys to ADHD treatments, such as medication and behavior modification.

Elisabeth Handley is a contributor.