Rather than (or in addition to) the classic symptoms boys display (hyperactivity, impulsivity, inattention, and executive functions), girls with ADHD are often characterized by the following:



Hypersocial behavior
Hyperverbal behavior (cannot stop talking, chatting, and commenting on everything)
Much giggleing and "silly" behavior
Irritability and dysphoric tendencies
Mood swings
Temper tantrums
Feeling shy, timid, and withdrawn
Becoming easily overwhelmed
Being self-critical
Hair-twirling, nail-biting, picking at cuticles
Depression
Low self-esteem
Tendency to unleash frustrations at home that were kept hidden at school
Academic passivity - giving up easily
Introversion

THE ADHD BOOK OF LISTS
Sandra F. Rief

what about changing clothes every 5 minutes LOL!

That's my DD to a "T." I'm always amazed that she can be hyperverbal/hypersocial AND socially withdrawn.

Imnapl,

Thank you for posting those.

As I've posted several times recently, the 1994 DSM-IV field trial for ADHD, contained a sample population of children/adolescents between the ages of 4-16 years; over 80+% of whom were boys.

Just as the expressions of symptoms can be different ( hyperactivity in girls is often dispalyed as Talking Excessively vs Hyperkinetic behavior in boys), the stage of development also impacts the symptoms.

For example, the hyperactive boy can often become the restless & bored adolescent (i.e., meaning the hyperactivity is less obvious), the symptoms actually increase in girls;as manifested by talking excessively.


Patricia Quinn, Ph.D., is among the leaders in research on Girls with ADHD.

Thanks again. This is a fascinating area.

tc
mctavish23
(Robert)

My son and daughter are textbook examples of the different ways ADHD boys and girls display symptoms.


Just as the expressions of symptoms can be different ( hyperactivity in girls is often displayed as Talking Excessively vs Hyperkinetic behavior in boys), the stage of development also impacts the symptoms.My daughter was speaking full sentences at twelve months of age and "talks too much" appeared on every school report card - almost word for word what was written on my report cards. :p She is a social butterfly, always looking for adventures and one of the funniest people on the planet. Her risk taking and impulsive behaviors are more focussed in adulthood - last summer she showed up at our door after crossing the country on the back of a Harley. :cool:

For example, the hyperactive boy can often become the restless & bored adolescent (i.e., meaning the hyperactivity is less obvious), the symptoms actually increase in girls;as manifested by talking excessively.My son was not diagnosed or medicated until adulthood. The hyperactive, outgoing, sensitive, little boy who was liked by teachers turned into the adolescent who quietly underachieved and daydreamed at the back of the class - still liked by teachers. Medication has helped him be more successful in life, but he is still much more hyperactive than other adults his age.


Patricia Quinn, Ph.D., is among the leaders in research on Girls with ADHD.

Thanks again. This is a fascinating area.

tc
mctavish23
(Robert)[/quote]

Wow. This list describes me to a T. It is unbelievable how my entire personality was described right there... I always thought I was weird for being hypersocial and feel withdrawn all at the same time.

Wow. This list describes me to a T. It is unbelievable how my entire personality was described right there... I always thought I was weird for being hypersocial and feel withdrawn all at the same time.It makes perfect sense. Impulsive behavior can go either way - the life of the party or annoying people. Repeated failures to control impulsive or reactive behavior chip at our self-esteem and make us self-conscious, insecure, or anxious. We withdraw in an all or nothing attempt to get along.

Wow. That fits me to a T too.

It makes perfect sense. Impulsive behavior can go either way - the life of the party or annoying people. Repeated failures to control impulsive or reactive behavior chip at our self-esteem and make us self-conscious, insecure, or anxious. We withdraw in an all or nothing attempt to get along.

Interesting. I never really understood it... Either I'm the center of attention or I'm a wall flower... No in between. That last sentence really struck home!

It makes perfect sense if you understand ADHD.

Hmmmmm, sounds like my last dream girl..... I guess we could relate ;)

Interesting. I never really understood it... Either I'm the center of attention or I'm a wall flower... No in between. That last sentence really struck home!Well, if you felt a connection to that, you just might feel the same way about the subject of this video.

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52742

Imnapl,

I forgot to mention that girls are more "social" than boys in terms of trying harder to please parents and/or teachers.

We're more like .."Uh huhuhuh. Uh,let's go break something."
- ButtHead

fyi, it's Patricia Quinn MD

( I bet she's Never been mentioned in the same posting with Butthead).lol

Thanks again

tc
mctavish23
(Robert)

Well, if you felt a connection to that, you just might feel the same way about the subject of this video.

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52742


I really did. Amazing video.

The inability to filter stuff, the insatiable drive to paint or write or sing or play music or write music or cook -- to create... Very touching.

Thanks so much for this post. I always feel so "atypical." (so much so that the powers that be haven't diagnosed me with anything more specific than a generic "learning disorder").

These are the things from the list which really were a problem when I was a child.




Hyperverbal behavior (cannot stop talking, chatting, and commenting on everything)
Irritability and dysphoric tendencies
Mood swings
Temper tantrums
Feeling shy, timid, and withdrawn
Becoming easily overwhelmed
Being self-critical
Hair-twirling, nail-biting, picking at cuticles
Depression
Low self-esteem
Tendency to unleash frustrations at home that were kept hidden at school
Introversion




The unleashing of frustrations at home whilst behaving perfectly at school lead my parents to believe that I could control myself if I tried.

Now, as an adult, I find myself tempted by academic passivity. I've worked so hard in college and grad school, and I really don't want to get as stressed out as I was in college ever again, so I've gotten "allergic" to stress. I don't really want to try anymore, and that's screwing me at the moment. I fear I've finally become lazy.