ADHD: what’s the difference between ADD and ADHD in girls?
ADHD in girls is still too often undiagnosed or diagnosed late. Girls frequently present a different profile from boys, with a predominantly inattentive rather than hyperactive presentation, which makes them less visible and less likely to be spotted. Here is what you need to know about ADHD in girls.
Why girls are less often diagnosed
ADHD was long considered an essentially male disorder because the initial studies focused almost exclusively on boys. Yet girls present ADHD differently. They less often have the visible, noisy hyperactive form that draws the attention of teachers and doctors. They more often present the inattentive form, ADD, which shows up as daydreaming, slowness and forgetfulness that is less disruptive in class. And they compensate more through extra effort, which masks their difficulties until school or social demands become too great.
The specific manifestations of ADHD in girls
In girls, ADHD often shows up as excessive daydreaming and difficulty concentrating on tasks that are not very stimulating. Slowness in schoolwork, which is not perceived as restlessness but as a lack of motivation. Constant forgetting of belongings and instructions. Chronic disorganisation. And often a significant emotional component, with sensitivity to rejection and social anxiety more pronounced than in boys.
The role of compensation in diagnostic delay
Girls with ADHD often compensate for their difficulties through considerable extra work. They re-read several times, they check and double-check, they develop complex organisational systems to offset their natural difficulties. This effective compensation hides the disorder until demands rise beyond what compensation can cover, usually in secondary school or sixth form. It is often during a period of school burn-out or depression that ADHD is finally identified.
The importance of early diagnosis for girls
Early diagnosis of ADHD in girls spares them years of silent suffering, fragile self-esteem and exhaustion from constant compensation. If your daughter shows attention difficulties, excessive daydreaming, constant forgetfulness and slowness in schoolwork, do not wait until she disengages before seeking advice. For resources on ADHD in girls, lesdys.fr offers specific guides and testimonials.
