ADHD Symptoms 20 Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in Girls How the condition tends to present in females may surprise you By Keath Low Keath Low Keath Low, MA, is a therapist and clinical scientist with the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities at the University of North Carolina. She specializes in treatment of ADD/ADHD. Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 18, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Aron Janssen, MD Medically reviewed by Aron Janssen, MD LinkedIn Aron Janssen, MD is board certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry and is the vice chair of child and adolescent psychiatry Northwestern University. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Verywell / Cindy Chung Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Diagnosis Signs and Symptoms Seeking Help Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has long been thought of as a condition affecting males. But, more girls are being diagnosed as the understanding of the condition deepens. Girls are more likely to have inattentive ADHD, in which daydreaming and shyness are common, whereas it is more typical for boys to have hyperactive-impulsive ADHD or combined presentation. Living with undiagnosed ADHD can result in disadvantages, such as a lack of accommodations in the classroom, low self-esteem, and self-blame. Gone undiagnosed, ADHD can even affect mental health well into adolescence and adulthood. Being aware of the different ways ADHD can present in your daughter can help you know when it might be time to see a doctor for an evaluation. What to Know About Stimming in ADHD Diagnosing ADHD in Girls ADHD symptoms can manifest very differently in each child. You may have a boy who has been diagnosed with ADHD, but never considered that your daughter who is having trouble in school might also have it too because her issues seem so different from his. ADHD symptoms in girls are often thought of as characters of a girl’s personality rather than ADHD, which is why they are often overlooked or explained away. It is much easier to identify a child who is physically active and defiant as someone that would benefit from an ADHD evaluation than someone who seems distant or distracted. In girls, ADHD signs and symptoms tend to have these underlying commonalities: Compensates for Inattention For many girls with ADHD, paying attention to the task at hand is their biggest challenge. They can get distracted by external events or drift off into a world of their own. For example, a bird outside a classroom window may take attention away from something more important in their environment, like a teacher announcing the date of an upcoming exam. To compensate, a girl with ADHD may hyperfocus on something she likes or is good at. She will put forth so much effort and concentration that parents or teachers may dismiss the possibility of ADHD. Sometimes this hyperfocus is a coping strategy to keep herself entertained when something is boring. Other times, she may not feel she has any control over it. Always in Motion If a girl is hyperactive, she might be described as a "tomboy" because she likes physical activity and doesn’t seem to enjoy the "typical things" a girl her age does. She might also be in motion in less obvious ways, perhaps doodling constantly or moving around in her chair. Lack of Impulse Control A girl with impulsivity can be hyper-talkative and verbally impulsive, interrupting others, talking excessively, or changing topics again and again during conversations. She might blurt out words without thinking about their impact on others. But this girl may also be overly sensitive. Some girls are described as overemotional and easily excitable. Symptoms of ADHD Signs and Symptoms Not all girls with ADHD will exhibit all of the following signs and symptoms. Conversely, having one or two of these does not equal an ADHD diagnosis in and of itself. However, if your daughter seems to exhibit a few of these symptoms on a continual basis, a discussion with an experienced professional may be beneficial. Appears withdrawnCries easily Daydreaming and in a world of her own Difficulty maintaining focus; easily distracted Disorganized and messy (in her appearance and physical space)Doesn’t appear to be trying Doesn’t seem motivatedForgetful Highly sensitive to noise, fabrics, and emotionsHyper-talkative (always has lots to say, but is not good at listening)Hyperreactivity (exaggerated emotional responses)Looks to be making "careless" mistakesMight often slam her doors shut Often late (poor time management) Problems completing tasks Seems shySeems to get easily upset Shifting focus from one activity to anotherTakes time to process information and directions; seems like she doesn't hear youVerbally impulsive; blurts out and interrupts others Signs of ADHD in Teens Seeking Help If ADHD is diagnosed, it can be treated and managed. Interventions can be put in place, including behavior management techniques, organizational strategies, medication, counseling, and support. Simply knowing she has ADHD can relieve a girl of a huge burden of guilt and shame. It can also free her from the damaging labels of being “spacey,” “unmotivated,” “stupid,” or “lazy.” She is none of those things; she simply has ADHD. Strategies can be put in place to make life a little easier and her future much brighter. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 3 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Bauermeister JJ, Shrout PE, Chávez L, et al. ADHD and gender: are risks and sequela of ADHD the same for boys and girls?. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2007;48(8):831-9.doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01750.x Skogli EW, Teicher MH, Andersen PN, Hovik KT, Øie M. ADHD in girls and boys--gender differences in co-existing symptoms and executive function measures. BMC Psychiatry. 2013;13:298. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-13-298 Ghanizadeh A. Psychometric analysis of the new ADHD DSM-V derived symptoms. BMC Psychiatry. 2012;12:21. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-12-21 Additional Reading Gurian A. Girls With ADHD: Overlooked, Underdiagnosed, and Underserved. 2014. NYU Child Study Center. New York. Selinus ENCA, Molero Y, Lichtenstein P, et al. Subthreshold and threshold attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in childhood: psychosocial outcomes in adolescence in boys and girls. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 2016;134(6):533-545. doi:10.1111/acps.12655. Speak to a Therapist for ADHD Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.