Boys are diagnosed with ADHD three to four times as often as girls are
even though research is starting to show that girls are just as likely to have it.
In fact, some experts believe that boys are being over-diagnosed
while girls tend to be underdiagnosed.
Why is that?
The simple answer?
It's complicated
I did a ton of research on the issue and I found five main reasons for this.
1. Stereotypes.
Boys tend to have the hyperactivity form of ADHD which is what we tend to think of when we think of ADHD. Since most research, literature, pop culture, focuses primarily on how ADHD expresses itself in males most people are more familiar with what ADHD looks like in males. The fewer girls fit into that stereotype, the less likely it is that they'll be recognized and diagnosed.
2. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Boys with ADHD tend to cause more trouble. So parents and teachers are more likely to look for a solution. Girls tend to have the inattentive form of ADHD. On progress reports, they're the well behaved bright students that just need to try harder. Even the girls who are hyperactive tend to try to work harder to be good and fit in than their male counterparts do probably due to societal pressure.
3.Clinical bias
Even if a girl does stand out enough to be referred to a mental health professional she's less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than a boy is. Even if she has the exact same symptoms.
4. Girls are more mature.
Actually, girls just mature faster then boys do. There is a definite correlation between maturity and likelihood of diagnosis. Studies have shown that children young for their grade level are more likely to be recognized and diagnosed. Since girls tend to mature faster than boys they're more likely to be missed.
5. ADHD comes with friends.
And not the good kind. 40% of those with ADHD also have a learning disability, such as Dyslexia. And 75-80% of kids with ADHD will develop a second or even third psychiatric condition at some point in their lives. Which makes things really messy and hard to diagnose, even for experts. That's true for both genders. But girls are three times more likely than boys are to be treated for depression before they are ever diagnosed with ADHD. So despite what pop culture would have us believe ADHD is not a one size fits all stereotype that's easy to spot. So as teachers, coaches, parents, friends how do we know what to look for? Well, it helps to understand what ADHD usually looks like in girls and how that differs from what it looks like in boys.
Before I get started A) I'm not a doctor, you probably know that by now, and B) these are generalizations, not every boy or girl will behave this way, but they tend to. Boys get in trouble a lot, at school and work. Girls tend to have more difficulty in social relationships and at home. Boys are usually more physically aggressive, shoving, hitting, kicking. Girls are usually more verbally aggressive.
Boys' symptoms are more external. Girls' symptoms are more internal. Boys often interrupt while other people are talking. Girls space out while other people are talking. What were you saying? Five minutes ago? Aaaaaaah! Boys externalize their frustrations. Girls tend to turn pain and anger inward. Boys are more likely to have behavioral issues. Girls are more likely to suffer from low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.
Remember, these are generalizations. This is not going to be true for everybody, and there's going to be exceptions. In fact, boys with the inattentive form of ADHD also tend to get overlooked. And even boys with hyperactivity can easily be dismissed as just boys being boys. In both boys and girls, it's important to recognize and treat ADHD as soon as possible. Early treatment can not only help manage symptoms now but help prevent other disorders from developing in the future.
1. Stereotypes.
Boys tend to have the hyperactivity form of ADHD which is what we tend to think of when we think of ADHD. Since most research, literature, pop culture, focuses primarily on how ADHD expresses itself in males most people are more familiar with what ADHD looks like in males. The fewer girls fit into that stereotype, the less likely it is that they'll be recognized and diagnosed.
2. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Boys with ADHD tend to cause more trouble. So parents and teachers are more likely to look for a solution. Girls tend to have the inattentive form of ADHD. On progress reports, they're the well behaved bright students that just need to try harder. Even the girls who are hyperactive tend to try to work harder to be good and fit in than their male counterparts do probably due to societal pressure.
3.Clinical bias
Even if a girl does stand out enough to be referred to a mental health professional she's less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than a boy is. Even if she has the exact same symptoms.
4. Girls are more mature.
Actually, girls just mature faster then boys do. There is a definite correlation between maturity and likelihood of diagnosis. Studies have shown that children young for their grade level are more likely to be recognized and diagnosed. Since girls tend to mature faster than boys they're more likely to be missed.
5. ADHD comes with friends.
And not the good kind. 40% of those with ADHD also have a learning disability, such as Dyslexia. And 75-80% of kids with ADHD will develop a second or even third psychiatric condition at some point in their lives. Which makes things really messy and hard to diagnose, even for experts. That's true for both genders. But girls are three times more likely than boys are to be treated for depression before they are ever diagnosed with ADHD. So despite what pop culture would have us believe ADHD is not a one size fits all stereotype that's easy to spot. So as teachers, coaches, parents, friends how do we know what to look for? Well, it helps to understand what ADHD usually looks like in girls and how that differs from what it looks like in boys.
Before I get started A) I'm not a doctor, you probably know that by now, and B) these are generalizations, not every boy or girl will behave this way, but they tend to. Boys get in trouble a lot, at school and work. Girls tend to have more difficulty in social relationships and at home. Boys are usually more physically aggressive, shoving, hitting, kicking. Girls are usually more verbally aggressive.
Boys' symptoms are more external. Girls' symptoms are more internal. Boys often interrupt while other people are talking. Girls space out while other people are talking. What were you saying? Five minutes ago? Aaaaaaah! Boys externalize their frustrations. Girls tend to turn pain and anger inward. Boys are more likely to have behavioral issues. Girls are more likely to suffer from low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.
Remember, these are generalizations. This is not going to be true for everybody, and there's going to be exceptions. In fact, boys with the inattentive form of ADHD also tend to get overlooked. And even boys with hyperactivity can easily be dismissed as just boys being boys. In both boys and girls, it's important to recognize and treat ADHD as soon as possible. Early treatment can not only help manage symptoms now but help prevent other disorders from developing in the future.