Girls with ADHD?

[3rdthoughts]

My DD 6 yrs has just had an initial diagnosis of ADHD - very chatty,poor impulse control and on the go from 6 till 10. Also poor social skills.

Wondering if anyone has an girl with ADHD and any suggestions of sites for information and any strategies you have found helpful.

Also very curious about outcomes for older girls with ADHD as the paediatrician said she was less inclined to medicate girls and that they tended to ''grow out of it'' which made me a bit as it is not what I have been reading - am wondering if she has an old fashioned view of ADHD.

My DS 7 was put on Concerta at Easter and we have seen a vast improvement at school. He is able to concentrate fully and achieve his full potential now whereas before his mind was all over the place. The impulsive behaviour is under control and he is safer (on bike, skis, road) because of it. I have adult ADHD and would have had a much happier childhood if I had been medicated. I could not write an essay or study becuase I could not concentrate and I ended up just being really naughty. They also say that UNmedicated teenagers often self medicate by turning to drugs or alcohol abuse and I did go through this for a few years (no major drugs mind). I don't want our son to go through the same difficulties and can now safely say that he is happier, more fulfilled and calmer on medication. We did not tell the school we were trialling Concerta but they have reported last week a VAST improvement in him noted by all the staff at school. He has achieved 3's in all his SAT's which he would not have been able to do had he not been able to write/concentrate/focus properly. He was never naughty but just could not rest his mind. He also survives on little sleep and has trouble falling asleep but this is apparently quite common. His appetite has been only marginally affected although he eats a lot after 7pm when the meds are wearing off.
GIRLS - I am aware that my DD 5 most probably has it too. She NEVER stops talking, is always going as high as possible standing up on the swing (much to everybody else's horror!) and has very poor social skills (mostly in the way she speaks to others and bosses them around). I doubt we will medicate her as I think girls can use the ADHD to their advantage (she sings and dances) in a way that boys can't. We will wait and see how she us getting on when she is 7 or 8 and review it then.
On the whole I feel that medication has been a great benefit to our son and we will continue to use it for a couple of years at least whilst he learns how to apply himself and concentrate.