Puberty in Girls & ADHD

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder or ADHD causes children and teenagers to have short attention spans, lack focus and act impulsively. However, ADHD affects girls differently, especially when they reach puberty.

Problem

• When girls go through puberty, usually at ages nine through 11, “hormone changes can cause their ADHD medication to be less effective” states ADDitude, a news and information site for families and adults living with ADHD and learning disabilities.

Symptoms

• ADHD symptoms are lateness, forgetfulness and not being able to concentrate. Hormonal changes “have tremendous impact on girls’ attention, memory, moods and cognitive learning” writes Chris A. Zeigler Deady in "Teenages with ADD and ADHD—A Guide for Parents and Professionals."

Solution

• ADDitude suggests parents discuss changing their daughter's medications with her doctor, and help her organize and manage her time more efficiently.

Expert Insight

• Dr. Patricia Quinn, and Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D., are the founders of the National Center for Gender Issues and ADHD. Quinn and Nadeau call for more studies of girls with this disorder.

Diagnosis

• The diagnostic criteria for ADD and ADHD are based on boys’ behavior so girls will often go undiagnosed until middle school or high school.