UBCNews - Business - Hidden Signs Of ADHD In Girls: Experts Present a Guide To Symptoms & Treatment

Episode Date: December 15, 2025

Have you ever noticed a girl in class who's always daydreaming, seems forgetful, or just can't keep up with assignments, and everyone just assumes she's spacey or lazy? Well, today we're talking about something that affects millions of young people but often goes completely unnoticed in girls - ADHD. I'm here with our guest who's going to help us understand why this happens so frequently. Mission Prep City: San Juan Capistrano Address: 30310 Rancho Viejo Rd. Website: https://missionprephealthcare.com/

Have you ever noticed a girl in class who's always daydreaming, seems forgetful, or just can't keep up with assignments, and everyone just assumes she's spacey or lazy? Well, today, we're talking about something that affects millions of young people, but often goes completely unnoticed in girls. ADHD. I'm here with our guest who's going to help us understand why this happens so frequently. Thanks for having me. You know, this is such an important topic because while boys are diagnosed,

with ADHD more often than girls, the symptoms in girls are consistently missed, and we're talking about a condition that impacts an estimated 7 million U.S. children age 3 to 17. 7 million? That's staggering. So why are we missing it in girls specifically? It comes down to how ADHD presents differently.

Girls are far more likely to have inattentive ADHD, which is much harder to spot than hyperactivity. You don't see the loud interruptions, the fidgeting, the constant movement, Instead, these girls might be sitting quietly in the back of the classroom, not causing any trouble, just falling through the cracks. Right. So they're not disruptive.

What are we actually seeing instead? The common symptoms include difficulty focusing, disorganization, daydreaming, and forgetfulness. They might be described as space cases, dreamy or even ditsy. But here's the thing. These behaviors are often misinterpreted as personality traits rather than symptoms of a real neurodevelopmental disorder. Mm-hmm. That makes sense.

So we're basically labeling these girls instead of helping them. Exactly. And it gets more complicated because many girls compensate for their ADHD by masking their symptoms. They'll work harder, study longer, spend extra time trying to get their

school work and chores just right. They're trying to be the good girl, overly helpful, agreeable, perfectionists even. That's exhausting just hearing about it. And I imagine that masking leads to other problems? Oh, definitely. When girls are compensating that intensely, they get overwhelmed.

Actually, anxiety could be the first indicator of ADHD and girls. Most female patients are referred to specialists because of anxiety and mood disorders, not because anyone suspects ADHD first. So we're treating the symptom, not, um, the underlying cause. Right. And there's another layer here, the emotional piece. Girls with ADHD often experience emotions very intensely. They might cry easily, get overwhelmed quickly, or struggle with emotional regulation. You could say their emotional responses are really amplified compared to their peers.

These intense feelings can strain their social relationships, leaving them feeling isolated or different from their classmates. That point about masking symptoms sets up our next piece. What happens when girls hide their struggles? But first, a quick word from our sponsor. If you're a parent facing teen mental health challenges, mission prep can help. They provide adolescent mental health programs in California and Virginia designed to support sustainable change for teens and their families. Mission Prep believes in treating the entire family system, helping families address challenges together in a safe, sustainable way. They're committed to preparing teens for life's challenges while giving families the fresh start they need.

Learn more at mission prephealthcare.com. Picking up on that masking behavior, how does hiding their struggles actually impact girls in their day-to-day lives? Well, social challenges can arise from things like impulsive talkativeness and difficulty reading social cues. Teenage girls with ADHD might interrupt conversations or struggle with timing, and unfortunately, that gets misread as being rude or immature. They're not trying to be difficult. They just have trouble with conversational flow. It's kind of like showing up to a party where everyone knows the dance steps except you. Right. Exactly. And when nobody understands what's happening, I imagine that really damages their self-esteem.

Absolutely. In fact, the self-esteem of girls with ADHD appears to be more impaired than that of boys with the condition. They're constantly comparing themselves with their peers, and they can see that they have the ability to do better, but they're underperforming. Year after year of that sense of underachievement really takes a toll. I remember a girl I worked with years ago, who told me she felt like she was watching her life through a foggy window. She could see what she wanted to do but couldn't quite reach it. Wow. What about academics?

Are there specific warning signs parents and educators should watch for? Academic problems like falling grades, procrastination, and missed assignments can definitely be warning signs. But here's something important. satisfactory academic achievement doesn't rule out ADHD and girls. Because they're working so hard to compensate, some maintain decent grades even while struggling internally, they might hyper-focus when they're motivated,

tuning out everything around them, but focusing on tasks they find boring or hard, that's like pulling teeth for them. I see, that's surprising. So even good students might be suffering in silence? Exactly. And if we don't catch it, untreated ADHD can lead to low self-esteem,

self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and serious social difficulties. The damage can hold them back emotionally and in the long term affect their motivation, planning, careers, and finances. By the teen years, that low confidence makes them more susceptible to risky behaviors like alcohol and drug use. That's really serious. So to everyone listening, if you're recognizing these patterns in a girl in your life, what should you know about getting help? First, understand that ADHD is real and treatable. It's hardwired and frequently runs in families. Research suggests that medications which increase dopamine and norapinephrine levels in the brain are effective in treating ADHD symptoms, improving cognitive control and decision making. This isn't a moral failing

or laziness. It's neurodevelopmental. And what does treatment actually look like? For children younger than six years with ADHD, behavior therapy is recommended as the first line of treatment. For children ages six years and older, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends combining medication treatment with behavior therapy. Together, these approaches help strengthen attention, executive function, and time management, and can shield girls from low self-esteem and prevent anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric conditions. But are girls actually getting this treatment? Unfortunately, not at the same rates as boys. Research shows that young girls are prescribed far fewer ADHD medications than boys and more commonly receive none at all. Around 23% of young people

diagnosed with ADHD aren't in treatment at all, while others receive it only sporadically. Why do you think that gap exists? A lot of it comes down to societal expectations and gender stereotypes. Symptoms like shyness, sensitivity to noise, and emotional volatility are often dismissed as typical female traits rather than potential indicators of ADHD. Girls are told that their symptoms are just anxiety, depression, or even menstrual-related issues, there's also been a gender bias in the research. Most of what we know about ADHD has focused on boys, so general thinking has been skewed. So generations of girls have been overlooked because we were looking for the wrong signs. That's right, but there's good news. Awareness is increasing.

Viral social media posts are educating young people and families, and the medical community has a growing understanding of ADHD's wide range of presentations. Increased awareness of the unique ways girls experience ADHD symptoms can help them get the right diagnosis and treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment can help girls manage their ADHD and build confidence. What would you want parents or educators to take away from this conversation? If you see a girl who seems capable but is underperforming,

who's anxious or withdrawn, who's working twice as hard as everyone else just to keep up, Don't assume it's a character issue. Look deeper. These girls deserve support, not labels. They need understanding, not judgment. That's such an important reminder. How can parents and teachers really stay on top of this? Stay engaged with children's behavioral health.

Watch for patterns, the daydreaming, the disorganization, the anxiety, the perfectionism that seems to mask struggle. And remember, these girls might look like they have it together on the surface. They might not be causing problems. but if we can identify ADHD early, we can make a huge difference in their lives, their relationships, and their futures. This has been incredibly eye-opening. I think we've given our listeners a lot to think about, and hopefully some tools to recognize when a girl might need support, rather than criticism. Have you noticed any of these signs in the girls around you? Thanks so much for breaking this down with us today.

Thank you, and to everyone listening, trust your instincts, if something seems like to off it's worth looking into, these girls are counting on us to see them.