Many experts believe that girls with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are underdiagnosed and, therefore, undertreated.¹¹ The difference in ADHD symptoms that girls and boys can display may be one reason.

Girls tend to show more inattentive symptoms, as opposed to hyperactive-impulsive ones.¹¹ Therefore, girls may "slip under the radar" and remain undiagnosed.

Since more boys are diagnosed with ADHD than girls, it is no surprise that more ADHD studies have involved boys. But recently a study followed a large number of teenage girls with ADHD over time and compared those teen girls to a group of their peers without ADHD. The study found that teenage girls with ADHD are at a much higher risk for behavior disorder, mood and anxiety disorders, and substance dependence, compared to girls without ADHD.¹¹ These findings are similar to what has been found in boys with ADHD.

Clearly, early recognition and treatment of ADHD can be very important to the healthy future of both boys and girls affected by this disorder.