ADHD and Girls: Health Story

Aired on Superstation WGN
Saturday, April 9 and July 9, 2005
Show 211

"It was frustrating. I felt like I wasn't good at anything," says grade school student and ADHD sufferer Elizabeth. ADHD is significantly under diagnosed in girls. "People think of ADHD and Dennis the Menace. This stereotype keeps girls from getting treatment. Girls tend to be inattentive. Boys are hyperactive," says Mark Stein, PhD at the University of Chicago. Child and adolescent psychologist Bennett Leventhal says, "ADHD has two components – inattention and impulsivity." ADHD exists in five to eight percent of children. These children can develop self esteem problems and may suffer headaches, fatigue and body aches. Dr. Stein suggests, "Ask how your child is doing in school. There is a combination of treatments available with medication, psychotherapy and support groups." "Early evaluation and intervention are key," says Dr. Bennett. Along with medication and therapy, Elizabeth's mother, Mary, breaks up tasks into small segments for her daughter. This addresses Elizabeth's difficulty with attention. "I feel normal now," says Elizabeth.