Research is showing that the symptoms of ADHD often intensify for girls during puberty when estrogen increases in their bodies. 3 As you already know, puberty is a time of great change in a girl's life as she begins the transition from childhood into adulthood.
The symptoms of ADHD in children and teenagers are well defined, and they're usually noticeable before the age of 6.
At what age are symptoms of ADHD the worst? The symptoms of hyperactivity are typically most severe at age 7 to 8, gradually declining thereafter. Peak severity of impulsive behaviour is usually at age 7 or 8. There is no specific age of peak severity for inattentive behaviour.
Put simply; masking is intentionally shifting your behavior to hide your differences. For example, a woman with ADHD might smile and nod during a conversation even though she tuned out long ago, or she may secretly work late into the night to overcompensate for not staying on task for a deadline.
ADHD signs and symptoms
Failing to pay close attention to details or making careless mistakes in schoolwork, at work, or with other activities. Having trouble keeping their attention on tasks or play activities. Not seeming to listen when spoken to directly.
During teen years, especially as the hormonal changes of adolescence are going on and the demands of school and extracurricular activities are increasing, ADHD symptoms may get worse.
The good news is that about half of kids with ADHD improve significantly after puberty. Many no longer need medication. The rest will probably need medication through adolescence and possibly into adulthood. On balance, most boys with ADHD pass through adolescence with no more difficulty than others.
The signs of ADHD in girls are more likely to look like inattention than hyperactivity. Girls with ADHD often don't fit the stereotype of excessive energy. Instead, they have a hard time paying attention, staying organized, and managing their time. People might mistake girls with ADHD for just being spacey or lazy.
In one way or another, hormonal changes directly impact most adolescents' ADHD symptoms. Puberty's physical influence on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD) is undoubtedly more intense for girls, but it shouldn't be minimized for boys.
Genetics. ADHD tends to run in families and, in most cases, it's thought the genes you inherit from your parents are a significant factor in developing the condition. Research shows that parents and siblings of someone with ADHD are more likely to have ADHD themselves.
People with ADHD often have trouble managing their emotions. And they tend to feel emotions more intensely than other people. The result? For some, it can mean mood swings that leave the people around them wondering what caused such a quick change in attitude and behavior.
ADHD can reduce life expectancy by as much as 13 years, but its risk is reversible.
The brain's frontal lobes, which are involved in ADHD, continue to mature until we reach age 35. In practical terms, this means that people with ADHD can expect some lessening of their symptoms over time. Many will not match the emotional maturity of a 21-year-old until their late 30's.
Electronics can send steady doses of dopamine – a neurotransmitter – straight to the brain's reward center. And the damage doesn't stop with an ADHD diagnosis. Ongoing screen overload can cause symptoms to get worse, and cause other problems as well.
ADHD does not get worse with age if a person receives treatment for their symptoms after receiving a diagnosis. If a doctor diagnoses a person as an adult, their symptoms will begin to improve when they start their treatment plan, which could involve a combination of medication and therapy.
Girls are also less likely to be diagnosed earlier because they often display more symptoms of anxiety. Medical providers may only treat a female patient's anxiety or depression without evaluating for ADHD. Hormones, which affect the symptoms of both ADHD and anxiety, can complicate things.
Girls with ADHD sometimes struggle to make and keep friends. Many also experience low self-esteem, depression or anxiety. They also have higher rates of self-harm, substance abuse, and suicide attempts than other girls.