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Puberty is a vulnerable time for many adolescent girls with ADHD. Research suggests that they may experience earlier pubertal onset than their neurotypical peers, adding a complex layer to a time of emotional, social, and neurological changes.
This webinar will explore current research on early puberty in youth with ADHD — why it may occur, and what it means for girls’ mental health risk and resilience. Designed for caregivers and clinicians, this session will review the signs of early puberty timing and examine the developmental mismatch that can emerge when bodies mature faster than emotional regulation skills.
How can hormonal shifts impact ADHD symptoms and mood, and how might these changes further shape subsequent mental health trajectories? Special attention in this webinar will be given to girls’ increased vulnerability to depression, anxiety, substance use, and eating disorders — and the practical, actionable strategies that can buffer stress and promote confidence during this critical developmental transition.
 In this webinar, you will learn:
How pubertal timing may differ for girls with ADHD
About the mental-health consequences of early pubertal development in adolescent girls
How pubertal development may lead to fluctuations in ADHD symptoms across the menstrual cycle in girls
About the impact of puberty on both assessment and treatment of ADHD
Strategies for building emotion regulation skills that can support adolescents with ADHD as they navigate the pubertal transition
Have a question for our expert? There will be an opportunity to post questions for the presenter during the live webinar.
ADHD and Puberty: Resources
Meet the Expert Speaker
Molly Nikolas, Ph.D., is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Iowa and the Principal Investigator of the Iowa ADHD and Development Lab. She is also the Director of Clinical Training of the Clinical Science doctoral program and a licensed psychologist in the State of Iowa. She has authored or co-authored more than 60 peer-reviewed papers on ADHD, with a focus on the interplay between biological and contextual contributors to the development and maintenance of the disorder. Her research on ADHD has been funded by the National Institute of Health, Shire Pharmaceuticals, and the Society for Research on Adolescence. She routinely conducts and supervises ADHD assessments for people of all ages through the Seashore Psychology Clinic at the University of Iowa. She has served as the President of the Iowa Psychological Association and as a Member of the Executive Committee for the Academy for Psychological Clinical Science. She has also served as a reviewer on several NIH study sections. Dr. Nikolas is currently an Associate Editor at the journals Assessment and the Journal of Attention Disorders.
Certificate of Attendance: For information on how to purchase the certificate of attendance option (cost $10), register for the webinar, then look for instructions in the email you’ll receive one hour after it ends. The certificate of attendance link will also be available here, on the webinar replay page, several hours after the live webinar. ADDitude does not offer CEU credits.
Closed captions available.