Let’s talk about those people who fly under the radar when it comes to ADHD
Most people think of ADHD as a hyperactive boy who bounces around the classroom and jumps off the roof onto the trampoline. And sure, there’s a lot of that!
But there’s also ADHD-Inattentive Type. This looks completely different.
This looks like:
daydreamingmaking careless mistakesmissing detailslosing thingsbecoming easily distractedappearing not to listentrouble with organizationavoiding tasks that take a lot of mental effortforgetting
And this type often shows up in girls with ADHD (although boys have this type of ADHD too).
But because girls are socialized to be accommodating and take up less space than boys, these behaviors can make it so nobody notices they’re having a hard time. After all, they’re quiet in class. Sure, their work might be a little sloppy or they might forget to turn in a few things.
But they’re not jumping out of their desk, so nobody thinks they might have ADHD.
And at home, parents might assume their forgetfulness, task avoidance, and losing things means they’re lazy.
Surely, a consequence will get them in line, right? But they don’t need consequences and nagging. And they definitely don’t need to considered a moral failure in some way.
They need help. A diagnosis is a great first step. Once you know what you’re dealing with, you can find the right treatments and use the right techniques that will actually buoy up your child and help them succeed.