| You can only fully understand how it is possible | | | | months ago. In one of these studies the |
| that girls and people with Predominantly | | | | researchers gave teachers written vignettes with |
| Inattentive ADHD, ADHD-PI get ignored by the | | | | a case study of a girl with symptoms of ADHD-PI |
| medical research community if you have lived | | | | and a case study of a girl with the symptoms of |
| with or have, in some other manner, thoroughly | | | | ADHD-C. Different teachers received different |
| experienced the other subtypes of ADHD. The | | | | vignettes and were then asked questions |
| reality is that the other subtypes are louder, more | | | | regarding the girl's diagnosis and the need for a |
| immediately in need of attention, and in general, at | | | | medical referral. Ninety-eight percent of the |
| least at first blush, much more difficult to deal | | | | teachers recognized that there was a problem |
| with. | | | | but they classified the girls as having emotional |
| I do not say this to propose that those of us | | | | problems rather than ADHD symptom problems. |
| with ADHD-PI are better off than the other | | | | The combined type case study girl was identified |
| subtypes. We are not, we have other problems. I | | | | as having ADHD by only 43% of teachers. |
| say this to give everyone an understanding of | | | | Eighty-six percent of teachers failed to identify |
| what we are up against. Girls are at a | | | | the girls with ADHD-PI. Eighty-five percent of |
| disadvantage when it comes to being diagnosed | | | | teachers reported that medication would not be |
| with ADHD because they are more likely to have | | | | helpful for either case study girl. |
| ADHD-PI but they are also at a disadvantage just | | | | In the second study 140 teachers and 96 parents |
| because they are girls. All Girls, regardless of the | | | | were given a vignette with a case study of a |
| subtype, are viewed differently than boys with | | | | child with ADHD symptoms. Half the parents and |
| ADHD and they are less likely to be identified, | | | | teachers read the case vignettes with a boys |
| diagnosed, or referred for treatment. | | | | names on them and the other half read the |
| I believe that there is a hierarchy of need that is | | | | vignettes with a girls names on them. The |
| taken into account when medical dollars are | | | | participants then rated their likeliness to seek or |
| allocated for research. It is appropriate that there | | | | recommend further evaluation or treatment for |
| are more research dollars allocated to Cancer and | | | | the child in each vignette. Parents and teachers |
| heart disease research than there are for say | | | | were less likely to recommend services for girls |
| onychomycosis (nail fungus). | | | | than boys with ADHD symptoms. |
| My contention is that girls get less attention | | | | The researcher of this second study had |
| because the problems of ADHD-PI are 'quieter' | | | | hypothesized that parents and teachers were not |
| than the problems of the other subtypes. Girls are | | | | seeking evaluation and treatment for girls because |
| also thought to be less at risk for becoming a | | | | the girls were less disruptive but this turned out |
| societal nuisance, than boys. Girls with ADHD are | | | | to not be the case. The differences in referral |
| perceived by teachers and parents differently | | | | rates turned out to be related to the perception |
| than boys with the same symptoms and they | | | | by parents and teachers that "learning assistance |
| get less attention and care for their ADHD | | | | is less effective for girls than boys with ADHD." |
| problems because of this. | | | | The findings from this second study should |
| Girls suffer tremendously as a result of their | | | | infuriate any woman reading this. The bias by |
| symptoms of ADHD but their symptoms often | | | | parents and teachers is so glaringly biased and |
| go completely ignored. Because, the majority of | | | | unfortunate for girls with ADHD. Girls with ADHD |
| children with the hyperactive/Impulsive type of | | | | are likely to go without attention for years and |
| ADHD (ADHD-HI) and the combined type of | | | | will fall further and further behind in school. Most |
| ADHD (ADHD-C) are boys, the studies done on | | | | girls will carry these symptoms into adulthood and |
| the trends, interventions, and outcomes for these | | | | are likely to have coexisting problems such as |
| types of ADHD has tended to include a | | | | substance abuse and depression which will only be |
| predominance of boys. To make matters even | | | | worsened by ignoring the symptoms of ADHD. |
| worse, girls with the combined or hyperactive | | | | We have got to do better by our girls. |
| impulsive type of ADHD are often mislabeled as | | | | Researchers are finally starting to research and |
| having some other condition other than ADHD and | | | | understand the barrier to treating girls with ADHD. |
| so are in turn, not treated appropriately. | | | | There is much more work to be done but these |
| Two interesting studies were performed a few | | | | studies are at least, a start. |