ADHD Isn't Just For Boys
ADHD is broken down into three types: the predominantly inattentive type (most girls), the hyperactive/impulsive type (with minimal problems with inattention), and the combined type (most common).
Girls with ADD are often missed because they are generally not hyperactive and disruptive, which is more common in boys. If they are bright, they often can make good grades. Sometimes a bright woman with ADHD will do well in school, do well in college, and do well in a career. However, when they get married and have three children, there are then hundreds of things that have to be attended to, and they often become overwhelmed. As life becomes more complex, with the jump from elementary to middle school and multiple classes, multiple teachers, and long term assignments, with the jump from MS to high school, from high school to college, etc, ADD has more of an impact.
Hormones play a part, too. Boys usually become less hyperactive and impulsive with the onset of puberty because of the effects of testosterone on the brain. Estrogen does something entirely different (thank heavens!), and girls might not show signs of hyperactive behavior until puberty.
ADHD symptoms tend to increase, rather than decrease, with puberty in girls. This corresponds to an increased need for treatment. As your daughter moves from elementary school to middle school to high school, they are suddenly faced with multiple classes, multiple teachers, more homework, and more long-term and difficult assignments. ADHD tends to have more of an impact.
The primary problems for girls with ADHD are not with hyperactivity and impulsivity, but inattention, distractibility, planning, organization, time management, and follow-through. Medications will only help problems with inattention and distractibility, and students need to learn and practice organization skills, time management skills, and study skills.
Recommended Reading: "Understanding Girls with AD/HD," by Nadeau, Littman, and Quinn.
Related Topics: The ADHD Child and ADHD Teen, Parenting a Child with ADHD
Technorati Tags: adhd, adhdingirls, attentiondeficitdisorder
Girls with ADD are often missed because they are generally not hyperactive and disruptive, which is more common in boys. If they are bright, they often can make good grades. Sometimes a bright woman with ADHD will do well in school, do well in college, and do well in a career. However, when they get married and have three children, there are then hundreds of things that have to be attended to, and they often become overwhelmed. As life becomes more complex, with the jump from elementary to middle school and multiple classes, multiple teachers, and long term assignments, with the jump from MS to high school, from high school to college, etc, ADD has more of an impact.
Hormones play a part, too. Boys usually become less hyperactive and impulsive with the onset of puberty because of the effects of testosterone on the brain. Estrogen does something entirely different (thank heavens!), and girls might not show signs of hyperactive behavior until puberty.
ADHD symptoms tend to increase, rather than decrease, with puberty in girls. This corresponds to an increased need for treatment. As your daughter moves from elementary school to middle school to high school, they are suddenly faced with multiple classes, multiple teachers, more homework, and more long-term and difficult assignments. ADHD tends to have more of an impact.
The primary problems for girls with ADHD are not with hyperactivity and impulsivity, but inattention, distractibility, planning, organization, time management, and follow-through. Medications will only help problems with inattention and distractibility, and students need to learn and practice organization skills, time management skills, and study skills.
Recommended Reading: "Understanding Girls with AD/HD," by Nadeau, Littman, and Quinn.
Related Topics: The ADHD Child and ADHD Teen, Parenting a Child with ADHD
Technorati Tags: adhd, adhdingirls, attentiondeficitdisorder
8 Comments:
Doctor...I am a 68 year old man with Attention Deficit Disorder evaluated in about 1991. Have since been...after unsuccessfully trying ritlin (sp),using Cylert with almost unbelievable success in all areas of my life..most recently Pemoline...the generic complement. I have been told that it is not being made anymore. It has been a wonder drug for me. I am now semi-retired consulting as a specialized CPA for wealthier clients with their estate and income tax planning. I am quite disturbed (almost "panicy"...(short of not being able to continue my daily routines) regarding no longer having their help in organizing, being creative in my field, etc. Simply not being able to obtain the drug any longer. Can you shed any light on #1 if that is true and #2 where and who might I contact such as the company that is producing the medicine. Would a Apothicary (sp) possibly be an answer since they make them up in their store? Any information would be much appreciated.
Hello i am teenager with severe ADD (so does my whole family) and i did the concerta and meds. f.y.i. that only temporarily fix or atleast patches the problem. You eveuantually become depent on the drug, lose site of what you like, and get serverly depressed. is there anything out there to actually over come my attention problems?
I am a 42 year old woman and I guess I have probably had ADD my whole adult life based on your descriptions. But, I bet many adults fall in this category. I am just glad that no one has noticed that I am not really paying attention to them.
Are there any ADHD support groups in the Tulsa area ? Thanks, RRL
I hope that some math teachers and parents will read this. I was diagnosed with ADHD-Inattentive type around the time I graduated college (after more than a decade in and out of school and a failed relationship). I am a heterosexual male in my 30's and there is nothing feminine about me at all. I say this because I don't want people to have the impression that the inattentive type only occurs in females. I was told as a child that I was "right brained" even though I am not left handed. In grade school I was placed in "gifted" classes based on my verbal and spatial IQ scores, yet I began to struggle with math around 3rd grade (slow computation) and later in 7th grade I encountered pre-algebra, after which it was downhill for me. I learned to HATE math, even though I struggled desperately to keep up with it. During this same time I was extensively bullied because of my small stature, glasses, and probably many mannerisms that I didn't notice but which were due to ADHDI. I was originally diagnosed as bipolar while still in high school. That explained depression, wild mood swings, suicidal thoughts, bizarre creativity and periods of high activity alternating with near-total lethargy and exhaustion, but it didn't explain my difficulties in math. I thought I had some undiscovered learning disability in this area, since I excelled in the qualitative but not quantitative aspects of the sciences. Due to a string of repeated F's in the same three required math classes, I had to give up my dream of being a biologist in college (I switched to social science to graduate). I'm talented in music and art (self-taught) but I don't care about those things- I always wanted to work for the environment. Since graduation I got fed up and quit my computer job out of boredom. I'm very pessimistic about finding a job that I can keep let alone enjoy. Sometimes I think I'm even losing my ability to care. Because of my childhood history, I don't really relate to the human race very well (I often misread strangers as hostile). I am currently trying to teach myself some of the math that the bean-counters and reciters could not teach me in school (I learn concepts well, but I make lots of little mistakes- which add up to the wrong answer). Interestingly, my brother has severe autism and I wonder about the genetic connection between these two conditions. I've tried drugs (Ritalin, strattera) but they haven't worked. It's probably too late for me, but if you know of a child who struggles in math, please try and find some help for him. I believe that one on one tutoring at an early age can make a difference in the life of an ADHD child.
We have an 8 year old daughter with ADHD. She was diagnosed last fall. I read all the the info out there on this and it seems hopeless. She is a bright girl and loving but, does deal with all the above mentioned issues. We have taken her out of a private school that was a great school, but 7 hours of anything is almost painful for these kids. We are now homeschooling. Which academically is the best thing. It allows her to do subjects at her pace with breaks in between. And she doesn't have to set in a desk all day. She can do her work on the floor if she wants. As for organization, it is a work in progress. We are using a low dose of drugs to help and it takes the edge off. Also allows time for sports and play. It takes lots of patience for both of us but we are blessed that there are more choices now.
Oh my goodness! I dont know who you are Mr wrong kind of genius but its like you live in my head. Well Im a 24 yr old female and i also exceled in school in the Beging, i always was on honor roll but it was hard to remember what the teacher taught than i always got in trouble by my mom because i couldnt remember(my mom did not play!) than in 6th grade when i got introduced to pre algrba I just couldnt grasp it. I learned it enough to pass the test I made up ways to help myself learn.I barely passes high school. I didnt realize untill recently that my thought process was different from everyone elses. I walk around not speaking to people because i think people dont like me but what im really doing is making them not like me by not speaking.
(24yr old female continued) Ive been in four different schools and had five different majors in six years since I get so bored at the jobs that i had. and right now i wanna go to school to become a chef but im to scared to go back because i fear i wont finish .Im scared to get a job because im scared i wont like it. And its getting worse . I have two childern That i fear i might lose if i dont get help with this. I go to see another srink because the first one todally dismissed the ADHD idea and that was two years ago. now as time goes on and definitly since i read this article about it I KNOW that i have it . i want help and I wont stop until someone listens because my children is all i have!
Post a Comment