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With the exception of those who have recently emerged from under a rock, we've all heard about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). More than likely, our thoughts immediately go to an out-of-control, eight year-old little boy running amuck in a grocery store, knocking over canned-food displays and elderly women.

How often do you think of a well-behaved little girl, sitting quietly at her desk, completing a reading or math test, on which she will score 100%? No one would likely associate that little girl with ADHD, and that is a mistake.

As a 33 year-old mother of three, I was diagnosed with ADHD. Much more is known about the disorder now, but one thing that hasn't changed is the difficulty of seeing the symptoms in most girls. After my diagnosis, I analyzed my childhood and teen years through a new paradigm.

Although it's not a foregone conclusion that your daughter will have some of the same struggles I did, please consider these signs carefully. If I had received help earlier, I think I would have avoided most of the bad thought patterns I developed from my early years.

1) Is your family-life, in terms of time, strictly regimented? If your schedule is predictable, with not much room for variation, that environment accomplishes two things. First, it is the best environment for someone with ADHD, but second, since the environment helps someone with ADHD to thrive, it can actually mask symptoms in someone who has ADHD but has not yet been diagnosed.

2) Does your child have trouble embracing compliments and/or does she try to hide accomplishments? A healthy dose of confidence is great for anyone, and I grew up having NONE. With As on my report cards, success in sports, and being generally liked by my peers, I had NO reason to be insecure. My parents couldn't have been more loving and encouraging. I could not accept any compliment whether it was, "You're smart," "You're pretty," or "You're good at [fill in the blank]". Does your daughter try to explain away success? Many people like to blame others for their failures. ADHD girls often "blame" others for their success: "It's not that I'm smart, the teachers just make it easy."

Looking back, I remember not feeling "normal" because of everything going on in my brain. Whenever I would try to express my thoughts, people didn't understand. I wanted a "quiet" brain like everyone else appeared to have. The larger point, however, is that insecurity can develop from feeling like no one understands you.

3) Does your

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