How to Recognize ADHD in Teen Girls
According to the CDC, boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that boys are more likely to have the disorder.
Rather, girls tend to be less disruptive when it comes to their symptoms. Those symptoms can be harder to spot in young girls, while they present themselves more openly in boys.
As a result, girls might not be diagnosed with ADHD until they’re a bit older, or even into their teenage years.
Even so, it’s important to be able to recognize some of the common signs and symptoms of ADHD in teenage girls.
If you’ve noticed that your teen has been struggling in school, with relationships, or seems frustrated with their own behaviors, it’s time to consider that what they’re going through is more than just normal hormonal changes.
Let’s take a look at how you can recognize ADHD in teen girls.
In doing so, you can get the teen in your life the help they deserve.
1. Physical Movement
It’s no secret that teens tend to have more energy than adults.
So, they’re bound to move around more often and might even have a hard time sitting still for too long.
But, when that becomes a problem or they simply can’t sit still, it could be a sign of ADHD.
Many teen girls with ADHD have trouble sitting quietly for long.
Even if their surroundings are calm, serene, and quiet, they might have difficulties staying in one place for too long.
If they’re forced to sit quietly, you might see them fidgeting quite a bit.
They might bounce their legs up and down, sway from side to side, or turn any object within their reach into something they can play with.
2. Easily Distracted
Again, it’s not uncommon for teens to have short attention spans or to experience distraction.
But, when a teenage girl has difficulty concentrating and it’s impacting her performance in school or having a negative influence on her relationships, it becomes a bigger issue.
Teenage girls with ADHD typically have a hard time focusing on things for too long.
They could get distracted by something real and tangible.
Or, they could be likely to daydream and drift off into their own thoughts because nothing holds their interest for too long.
3. Difficulty Taking Turns
In addition to having a hard time paying attention for long, it’s often hard for teen girls with ADHD to wait their turn for something, especially when it comes to speaking.
At the risk of stereotyping, if you have a teenage girl in your life, you probably know how much they tend to like to talk.
Sometimes, girls (and teens, in general) can get so excited about something they have to say that it becomes difficult to keep it inside for long.
But, by their teenage years, most girls should be able to wait for the appropriate time to speak. That’s especially true if they’re in a friend group, around family members, or in a social setting.
Teens with ADHD will have a much harder time waiting for their turn to talk. That leads to interrupting, which can be problematic in all types of relationships.
What Can You Do?
If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms, the best thing you can do for the teenage girl in your life is to reach out to a mental health professional and talk to their doctor.
Certain medications can help with symptom management. But, a combination of medication and therapy is often the best way to deal with ADHD early on.
This disorder doesn’t “go away” on its own.
However, the right management techniques can make it easier for teenage girls to understand their symptoms, how to feel more in control, and how to live normal, successful lives with ADHD.