Hyperactive symptoms of boys with ADHD tend to overpower those of girls also struggling with ADHD. Boys tend to demonstrate more disruptive behaviors and attention-grabbing, whereas girls are more low-key and inattentive.
Teen girls experience symptoms that are more likely to be considered personality traits rather than ADHD symptoms. These symptoms can be explained away as something else.
Understanding and recognizing the differences in symptoms between the two genders can help equalize the unbalanced diagnosis and treatment rates.
Inattention
One of the main things overlooked in teen girls with ADHD is their inattentiveness. They are easily distracted and tend to have poor attention to detail. On the outside, girls appear to be more short attention-spaced and distractible in their surroundings.
When it comes to school, ADHD can present as missed assignments or forgetfulness with tasks due to forgetting them altogether or failure to finish on time. Homework may take longer when you have ADHD. Increased testing time limits may be needed if scores are trending below average.
Perfectionism
ADHD has a strong correlation with perfectionism. It’s the most commonly reported symptom for those living with ADHD.
Perfectionism with ADHD can present in a couple of different ways. The typical understanding is that you need everything to be perfect and just right before finishing your task. It can also present as procrastination. Because there is a need to have everything done correctly, it can cause a significant delay in completing tasks promptly.
Perfectionism in teen girls creates high, often unrealistic standards. It can be easily mistaken for a typical teen girl problem.
Hyperactivity Differences
Boys who have ADHD tend to demonstrate more disruptive behavior, including physical movements like tapping hands and feet or blurting out responses in school.
Girls differ in that their symptoms are more discrete or masked. Their movements can be as subtle as twirling their hair or picking at their cuticles/nails. Their hyperactivity may cause them to be more talkative and chatty in school. Girls have much more internalized hyperactivity than boys do.
Some girls’ hyperactivity can be mistaken for “tomboy” behaviors. Those girls enjoy the physical activity that comes with sports over stereotypical "girlish" behavior.
Silly or Ditzy Behavior
ADHD can impact executive functioning, even with the smartest of girls. It isn’t uncommon to find them staring off into space or appearing lost in a subject matter. They are mistaken for being silly or ditzy in school or social settings.
They may appear very flippant or carefree, but it’s really just their brain processing differently compared to a neurotypical brain. Belongings may get lost or misplaced more easily. Simple questions may be harder for them to answer, whether they know the information or not.
In efforts to mask their symptoms, they often learn to make jokes about the situation to laugh it off. It is easier to be the butt of a joke rather than be ridiculed.
Difficulty Maintaining Friendships
In order to maintain good friendships and relationships, you have to have awareness of the other person’s feelings. You also have to know how to respond to them appropriately. Having ADHD can make it hard to do either of those things.
During the teen years, if you aren’t able to manage the thoughts and feelings of others, there tends to be a quick replacement rate. Plus, if you add in the way teens socially interact with each other, this can make it that much harder.
If you’re noticing signs or symptoms that are concerning in your teen, contact us to learn more about how you can help them. You can also visit our Counseling For Teens page for more information about our services.