Understanding Your Unique Mind
ADHD Evaluations for Girls
Figuring out whether your daughter has ADHD can feel overwhelming, especially when her struggles might look different from what people expect. Our comprehensive evaluations test for the unique ways ADHD in girls presents itself, helping you gain an understanding of your daughter’s brain and leading to strategies that work for her life at school, at home, and with friends.
ADHD Isn’t Just Hyperactivity
ADHD is underdiagnosed in girls due to limited awareness of how the condition presents differently than in boys, the limited visibility of the inattentive symptoms, and a cultural gender-based bias to assume that girls can’t have ADHD. Minnesota Neuropsychology brings clarity to the experiences of girls with ADHD through diagnostic assessments based on current clinical research.
The traditional understanding of ADHD was based on boys—being hyperactive, disruptive, or struggling to sit still. But the symptoms in girls with ADHD are sometimes different, and usually less noticeable. Girls often “mask” their symptoms or internalize their struggles. Sometimes girls with ADHD appear to be “type A” or “perfectionists” due to the strategies they’ve developed to cope with the symptoms of ADHD. It’s important to understand that ADHD presents differently in everyone—not just between genders—but from person to person. A girl with ADHD might appear to listen in class while lost in thought or work twice as hard to keep up, leading to hidden exhaustion and anxiety. These struggles with organization, time management, and intense emotions go unrecognized because girls tend to mask their symptoms or blame themselves for their challenges.
The Hidden Signs of ADHD in Girls
Early identification through comprehensive ADHD testing designed with girls in mind can help identify the often hidden symptoms of ADHD and provide clear guidance for effective support. Without proper recognition of these patterns, girls who struggle with ADHD in silence can start to experience self-limiting beliefs and learned helplessness, developing thoughts like “I’m not smart” or “I’m not good enough.” With proper understanding and timely diagnosis, girls with ADHD can harness their unique strengths and develop strategies that work for how they experience the world.
Common ADHD Symptoms and Patterns in Girls
- Focus and Concentration: Difficulty maintaining focus, has trouble concentrating during conversations.
- Task Management: Avoids getting started with non-preferred tasks, has trouble planning, tends to leave non-preferred tasks incomplete.
- Executive Function: Challenges with memory, keeping track of belongings, and following multi-step directions.
- Social Communication: Talking excessively, interrupting others, or blurting out comments she later regrets.
- Internalizing and Masking: Appearing quiet or compliant while struggling internally, often leading to exhaustion and self-limiting beliefs.
- Emotional Regulation: Experiencing intense emotional reactions and difficulty with impulse control, especially when frustrated.
- Family Connections: Most ADHD is genetic in origin. 77% of children with ADHD have a parent with the condition.
- Related Conditions: Commonly co-occurs with anxiety, depression, behavior disorders, and dyslexia.
The Evaluation Day
Our one-day evaluations provide a complete picture of your daughter’s learning profile, any potential diagnoses, and a roadmap with specific strategies for support. The evaluation process includes:
- Morning parent interview to discuss your daughter’s history and concerns
- Child assessment activities (testing, puzzles, academic skills, hands-on work)
- Same-day parent meeting with results and recommendations
- Detailed written report delivered the following week
Our experienced team of neuropsychologists has established relationships with local experts who offer services for ongoing support like tutoring, coaching, therapy, and medication consultation. Learn more about your daughter’s evaluation day in our detailed overview.
I am a Learning Specialist at Mounds Park Academy. Many of our students have used your services for an evaluation. I recently received a report that was completed by Ashley Isaia, and I appreciated how detailed and thorough it was.
I wanted to let all of the team know that my child had a very good experience. They are prone to a lot of anxiety, especially in situations like these. You all did an amazing job making them feel at ease and comfortable throughout the entire process. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart, I appreciate you all very much.
Diagnostic Care from a Compassionate Team
We provide evaluations in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area through comprehensive, data-driven evaluations in two welcoming settings. Whether you visit our Cathedral Hill or Wayzata location, you can expect a caring and compassionate team. Our neuropsychologists work hand-in-hand with our team of assessment specialists (psychometrists) to ensure that your child has a positive and engaging evaluation experience. Our mission is to provide a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation that empowers children of all ages to understand their brain and go forward confidently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are common questions about ADHD in school-aged and teenage girls. For information about our comprehensive evaluations, please visit the FAQ section on our Evaluations for Children & Adolescents and ADHD in children webpages.
Is ADHD really that different in girls?
Yes, ADHD often presents differently in girls compared to the traditional understanding based on boys. There remains a cultural gender-based bias that assumes that girls who are not hyperactive cannot have ADHD. Girls with ADHD are more likely to present with some of the less outwardly obvious symptoms, like difficulty focusing, struggles with time management, forgetfulness, or distractibility. Some girls with ADHD develop perfectionism to mask their struggles. Girls may appear to be listening in class while lost in thought or work twice as hard as their peers just to keep up, leading to hidden exhaustion and anxiety. These “invisible” symptoms mean many girls go undiagnosed because they don’t fit the stereotype of what ADHD looks like.
Will my daughter outgrow her ADHD symptoms?
No, ADHD is a lifelong condition. Girls with ADHD grow up to be women with ADHD, and symptoms don’t disappear after turning 18. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial because they help girls develop strategies and self-understanding that serve them throughout their lives. With proper support during childhood and teenage years, girls can learn to manage their symptoms effectively and build confidence in their abilities, setting a foundation for success in adulthood.
What happens if my daughter’s ADHD goes undiagnosed?
Girls with undiagnosed ADHD often develop patterns of shame and self-limiting beliefs that can impact their entire lives. They may struggle silently through school and into adulthood without understanding why certain things feel so difficult, leading to challenges in careers, relationships, and mental health. In contrast, early support helps girls learn to harness their strengths and develop effective strategies that set them up for success in all areas of life—from academics to careers to relationships. Timely diagnosis provides the understanding and tools needed to thrive rather than just survive.
Does ADHD present differently in young girls versus teenage girls?
While the core symptoms of ADHD remain consistent, they can manifest differently as girls grow and face new developmental challenges. Young girls may struggle more with basic organization, following classroom rules, or completing homework, while teenage girls often face additional complexities around social relationships, academic pressure, and emotional intensity. Hormonal changes during puberty can also affect ADHD symptoms, sometimes making them more noticeable. An ADHD evaluation for girls should account for these developmental differences, and symptoms in a teenage girl may include increased anxiety about social situations, perfectionism around grades and appearance, or difficulty managing the increased independence and responsibility that comes with adolescence. Regardless of age, early identification and support are crucial for helping girls develop effective coping strategies.
Are girls with ADHD born with it?
Yes, girls are born with ADHD. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that has its origins before birth and affects behavioral, emotional, and cognitive functioning in girls and boys. In most cases (77%), ADHD has a genetic origin. Sometimes, other medical or external factors can increase the risk for ADHD, such as prematurity, prenatal exposure, medical conditions like epilepsy or congenital heart disease, or early environmental factors.
ADHD brains are different in both structure and chemistry. To an outside observer, ADHD symptoms can appear to be intentional, but in truth, there is a biological difference underlying the pattern of struggles that girls with ADHD experience.
ADHD is a condition that includes two main categories of symptoms: (a) problems with focus and (b) problems with impulsivity or hyperactivity. People with ADHD do not have a deficit of attention. Rather, they have problems allocating, sustaining, and regulating their attention toward a specific task or topic.
It used to be thought that people with ADHD had to be “hyperactive.” This is not true. Not all girls with ADHD have hyperactivity symptoms. In fact, most girls do not. Because the problems with focus are more challenging to see from the outside, girls with ADHD often struggle in silence.For more FAQs related to ADHD, see our ADHD evaluation page for children.
What are your policies regarding insurance?
To ensure we can provide thorough evaluations, we have chosen to be an out-of-network provider and do not accept insurance. Unfortunately, insurance companies impose strict limitations on how much time can be allocated to different parts of an evaluation. For complete details about potential reimbursement opportunities, please visit our Fees & Payments web page.
Request an Evaluation
Through our comprehensive diagnostic evaluation and ADHD testing, you’ll gain clear insights to navigate ADHD challenges effectively. Our welcoming teams at our Minneapolis/St. Paul and Wayzata offices are here to guide you toward understanding and growth.
