Some interesting problems related to ADHD in girls

Gender Differences in ADHD (an advertisement for Concerta that includes a discussion of this subject, free with registration at Medscape)

Among other things, criteria for the disroder are weighted towards behaviours found in boys; girls tend to be underdiagnosed even though they have many of the same impairments, and those girls diagnosed under the criteria tend to have more severe symptoms than girls missed by the criteria. The programme makes it clear that girls should be compared to other girls in terms of functioning rather than to boys for a clearer picture of which girls suffer impairments. Inattentive type of ADHD is more prevalent in girls rather than boys, and it's harder to diagnose this rather than the hyperactive type more often seen with boys. Also, apparently with girls, there is a higher onset at puberty, although the related criterion states that ADHD symptoms must be demonstrated before age 7, even though other developmental disorders do not have a similar requirement. The programme discusses the need to revise criteria to be less gender-biased. Essentially girls, being inattentive or mixed hyperactive-inattentive rather than hyperactive, tend to be less problematical for teachers, do not suffer as much in terms of schoolwork, but tend to be more isolated from their peers and suffer socially. Check it out for some great information on studies looking at the differences between boys and girls with ADHD and how girls with ADHD differ from their unaffected peers.