Results of a new study conducted through the Universite de Montreal has found that hyperactive and aggressive behaviors in young girls can have negative effects on them as adults. The study followed 881 Canadian girls from age 6 until they turned 21 years old.

"'This study shows that hyperactivity combined with aggressive behavior in girls as young as six years old may lead to greater problems with abusive relationships, lack of job prospects and teenage pregnancies."

About 25 percent of the girls who had behavioral issues as children grew out of them, leading researchers to believe that more study is needed into hyperactivity and aggression triggers. Read more at PsychCentral.com.

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Labels: hyperactivity, aggression, girls

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Shortly after Allison started kindergarten, she was diagnosed with, among other things, Attention Deficit Disorder. Over the years, as her parents have helped her adapt, study, and grow; as they've advocated for her education  they've discovered a myriad of strengths in amongst her few weaknesses.

"She is wonderfully empathetic, the first one to offer soothing words to those who've had their feelings hurt. She's got a great work ethic and has recently taken to snapping on the light and studying after bedtime. She's a gifted athlete who taught herself to bat left-handed when she realized that's how Hideki Matsui of the Yankees bats."

Her parents have also learned that they experience things many other parents do not; guilt, fatigue, sometimes even envy. But one thing they share with parents worldwide is faith in their child and her ability to "do just fine in life".

New Leaf Academy helps girls with ADHD learn how to control their emotions. New Leaf is a junior boarding school for troubled girls with campuses in Oregon and North Carolina.

Labels: parents, advocacy, girls

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Say "ADHD" and most people think of a child who can't sit still, climbs on furniture and takes dangerous risks. That description is largely true for boys, but ADHD in girls looks very different.

"Girls who have the inattentive type of ADHD may space out in class, miss turning in homework or have trouble starting or finishing projects..."

Because the symptoms in girls are more "low key", many girls get overlooked and are called "daydreamers" or "chatter boxes". Girls who struggle to focus in the classroom, have trouble completing homework assignments on time (or at all), or seem unusually disorganized should see a doctor who is capable of making an official diagnosis.

Girls with ADHD can get the academics and therapy they need to control their feelings at New Leaf Academy.

Labels: diagnosis, girls

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

When parents hear the term "ADHD", they typically think of a child running wild through the house or on the playground. For boys with ADHD, that's a fairly accurate description. However, girls are more likely have the inattentive type of ADHD, causing them to daydream or to have trouble concentrating. Because of this difference, their ADHD may go undiagnosed for years.

"The interesting thing is that these girls with inattentive ADHD will do well on standardized tests in some cases. So, parents and teachers recognize their ability, but since they're still underachieving in the classroom, they are called lazy, and it can affect self-esteem."

Symptoms in girls with inattentive ADHD include forgetfulness, disorganization, easy distractibility, and difficulty focusing on material in school. Read more at UnderstandingADHD.com.

Labels: concentration, girls, inattention

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A study being reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry has found that girls with ADHD are more likely to develop other mental health issues than their non-ADHD counterparts. The study tracked 187 girls (96 with ADHD, 91 without) for 11 years, having them answer standard psychiatric diagnostic questions.

“The researchers found that by the age of 30, more than three-quarters of the ADHD group had suffered depression at some point in their lives, versus less than one-quarter of the comparison group. Similar differences emerged for other types of disorders.” [Source: Reuters]

Dr. Daniel Carlat, a psychiatrist not involved in the study, urged parents and other caregivers not to be overly-alarmed or assume that medication is the solution. The connection between ADHD and other mental disorders is still unknown, and the causes may be treatable via non-medication methods such as getting a tutor to help with school work or having the child participate in behavioral therapy.

Labels: mental_health, girls

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 1 Comment

A recent review of the medical records of 100 girls found that many had sought treatment for autism or ADHD, but had been ignored – or their symptoms had been downplayed by medical professionals.

“The thesis focuses primarily on 100 girls who, before reaching adulthood, went to the doctor on account of difficulties with social interaction and/or concentration at school or elsewhere… ‘They had also asked for help at an early stage, but hadn’t been given a proper diagnosis.’ [says Svenny Kopp, a doctoral student at the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology…]” - Source: University of Gothenburg

A subsequent evaluation found that many of the girls exhibited evidence of either autism or ADHD. Many of those same girls also suffered from anxiety, depression or social behavior disorders. They also struggled in school, were often truant, and avoided sports and other extracurricular activities. Kopp hopes the findings in her thesis will encourage pediatricians and mental health professionals to take autism and ADHD in girls seriously, and offer treatments as soon as possible.

 

 

Labels: autism, diagnosis, girls

Posted By: CRC Health Group 1 Comment

Several recent studies published by the American Journal of Psychiatry revealed that girls who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to show other mental health risks, reports the North Shore News.

Experts told the news source that girls with the condition are more likely to develop depression, anxiety, eating disorders or other psychiatric issues by the time they reach adulthood. The 11-year study followed 187 girls between the ages of 6 and 18, who were diagnosed with ADHD.

Furthermore, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital found that nearly 75 percent of women who suffered from ADHD since childhood developed depression or anxiety at some point during their lifetime.

However, researchers told the news source they believe the reason for these findings is that some children may have an underlying genetic susceptibility to these conditions.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 20.9 million in the U.S. have a mood disorder.
 

Labels: depression, girls

Posted By: Staff Writer 0 Comments