Girls with ADHD are more likely than their male counterparts to demonstrate inattentive symptoms. These inattentive girls are the ones staring out the window or picking their split ends or doodling incessantly when they should be listening in class. They may be called daydreamers or ditzy or worse. Early detection and effective treatment is essential to prevent real psychological damage.
Which is why psychologist Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D., has devised the following ADHD symptoms checklist specifically for girls. The following questions should be answered by girls themselves, not by parents and teachers, because girls experience ADHD more internally than do boys, who are more likely to exhibit externally hyperactive/impulsive symptoms.
Many of Nadeau’s questions apply to boys, since they pertain to problems with productivity, general distractibility, impulsivity, hyperactivity, and sleep. The statements below, however, are particularly oriented toward girls.
NOTE: The more questions you answer in the affirmative, the more likely you are to have symptoms that resemble those of girls with ADHD. This self-test is not intended to diagnose or to replace the care of a healthcare professional. Be sure to share your completed self-test with a healthcare professional. An accurate diagnosis can only be made through clinical evaluation. This self-test is for personal use only.
