ADHD in Girls:
Seeing What Others Miss!
ADHD in girls doesn’t always match the stereotypical symptoms of hyperactivity, excitability, and disruption commonly exhibited in boys. Instead, girls are more likely to experience symptoms of ADHD in quieter ways, including internal restlessness, perfectionism, emotional overwhelm, and chronic inattention. Due to their subtlety, these ADHD symptoms may be unseen and go unnoticed.
Why ADHD Looks Different in Girls
From toddlerhood, girls are socialized to be compliant, cooperative, and emotionally attuned. As a result, ADHD in girls often involves masking, an intentional or subconscious effort to hide symptoms in order to fit in, avoid embarrassment, or appear organized and on top of things.
Since masking can make it so hard to see symptoms, it makes an ADHD diagnosis more elusive and comes at an emotional cost. Girls who mask often adopt perfectionistic tendencies, double-checking their work to avoid mistakes, overworking to maintain the appearance of control, or unfairly criticizing themselves at the slightest hint of flaws. Over time, ADHD in girls goes beyond ADHD: Pressure adds up and translates into burnout, chronic anxiety, and low self-esteem.
Key Things to watch for in girls
Perfectionism
Frequent forgetfulness
Daydreaming
Time management challenges
Emotional Dysregulation
Hyperfocus on preferred tasks
Extreme people-pleasing
Social Impulsivity
Difficulty initiating or following through on tasks
Self-criticism
The Arbit ADHD Center Advantage
The Arbit ADHD Center is about more than ADHD; we embrace an A-to-Z philosophy that focuses on the spectrum of neurodevelopmental and learning differences. Our team has experience in ADHD, Autism (ASD), Dyslexia, and more.
With expertise in their specialty fields, our clinicians provide insight into how the neurodivergent brain processes information, why symptoms show up, and how to overcome challenges. We design tools specific to each person’s learning style, support system, and strengths to offer individualized care at every step.
Expert Care for ADHD in DC, Maryland, Virginia, California, Pennsylvania, and More
At The Arbit ADHD Center, we offer specialized in-person or telehealth ADHD care in DC, Maryland, and California, as well as telehealth options in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and nationwide. Our team has expertise on ADHD in girls and is committed to helping them experience meaningful progress, measurable success, and lasting results.
We don’t just consider symptoms; we also embrace the person. Through collaborative, tailored support, we help girls build confidence, foster resilience, and adopt practical tools to flourish today, tomorrow, and all the days to come.