Event Details
ADHD in Girls and Breaking Stigma
ADHD clearly leads to life difficulties in many cases, but under the right circumstances and with evidence-based treatment, individuals and families can thrive. Girls with ADHD are often overlooked, misunderstood, or diagnosed later than boys. Their challenges can present differently, and the social and emotional impact of missed support can be of major concern.
Dr. Stephen Hinshaw is one of the most respected voices in ADHD research, studies of treatments, long-term follow-up, and the stigma surrounding mental- health issues. He founded the Berkeley Girls with ADHD Longitudinal Study (BGALS), the largest follow-up of girls with ADHD through adulthood ever conducted. His evening talk, with ensuing discussion, will provide a close look at the controversies and challenges surrounding ADHD, including a focus on girls as they develop across the lifespan. Take-aways include what educators and families can do differently.
This event is designed for parents, educators, clinicians, and professionals who want a clearer, more accurate understanding of ADHD, and the conditions that accompany it, both overall and particularly in girls.
About the Speaker
Dr. Stephen Hinshaw
Dr. Stephen P. Hinshaw is an internationally recognized clinical psychologist and Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a leading expert on ADHD, with a particular focus on girls and women. His research has garnered top awards worldwide in clinical psychology, applied psychological research, basic psychological research, child development, child and adolescent psychiatry, international mental health, and ADHD; he is the only individual with such acclaim in all seven areas. He is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
His research career includes landmark longitudinal studies examining how ADHD in girls affects academic achievement, self-esteem, mental health, and relationships over time. Dr. Hinshaw is widely known for helping shift the field away from male-centric ADHD models and for challenging the stigma around neurodevelopmental differences.
He is the author of several influential books, including Straight Talk about ADHD in Girls and Another Kind of Madness—a family memoir on overcoming the silence around mental and neurodevelopmental conditions illness. Steve is a frequent speaker on and advocate for the importance of early understanding, accurate identification, and compassionate support.
What Attendees Can Expect
- A research-informed look at how ADHD presents differently in girls
- Common myths and misconceptions that delay support
- The social and emotional impact of stigma, including personal and family narrative to supplement the science
- What schools and families can do to better support both boys and girls with ADHD
- Time for questions and discussion
