605- Early Puberty Among Girls with ADHD and Its Mental Health Implications
ADHD Experts Podcast
ADDitude
4.4 • 1.4K Ratings
🗓️ 12 May 2026
⏱️ 63 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Molly Nikolas, Ph.D., explores current research on early puberty in youth with ADHD, including how pubertal timing may differ for girls with ADHD, the impact of puberty on ADHD assessment and treatment, and the mental-health consequences of early puberty.
Resources: ADHD and Puberty
- Free Download: Menstrual Cycle Workbook
- Read: ADHD and the Turbulence of Puberty
- Read: Protecting the Emotional Health of Girls with ADHD
- Read: ADHD in Women and Girls: Why Female Symptoms Slip Through Diagnostic Cracks
Access the video and slides for podcast episode #605 here: https://www.additudemag.com/webinar/puberty-girls-adhd-mental-health/
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Attention Deficit Disorder Expert Podcast series by Attitude Magazine. |
| 0:13.5 | Everyone, I'm Annie Rogers from Attitude, and today I'm so pleased to welcome you to our ADHD |
| 0:19.9 | expert's presentation titled Early Puberty Among Girls with ADHD and Its Mental Health Implications. |
| 0:28.9 | Leading today's presentation is Dr. Molly Nicholas. |
| 0:32.6 | She's an associate professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Iowa |
| 0:39.3 | and the principal investigator of the Iowa ADHD and Development Lab. Dr. Nicholas has authored |
| 0:46.9 | more than 60 peer-reviewed papers on ADHD with a focus on the interplay between biological |
| 0:54.1 | and contextual contributors to the development |
| 0:57.4 | and maintenance of the disorder. |
| 1:00.2 | Her research on ADHD has been funded by the National Institute of Health, Shire Pharmaceuticals, |
| 1:05.7 | and the Society for Research on Adolescence. |
| 1:09.7 | Dr. Nicholas is currently an associate editor at the journal's assessment |
| 1:14.0 | and the Journal of Attention Disorders. As you likely know, because you're here, puberty is a |
| 1:21.2 | vulnerable time for so many adolescent girls with ADHD. Research suggests that they may experience earlier |
| 1:30.1 | puberty onset than their neurotypical peers, |
| 1:33.3 | adding a complex hormonal and developmental layer |
| 1:36.8 | to a time of emotional, social, and neurological changes. |
| 1:42.4 | Today, we will explore current research on early puberty with youth with ADHD, |
| 1:48.0 | why it may occur and what it means for girls' mental health risk and resilience. We'll review |
| 1:55.2 | the signs of early puberty and understand the developmental mismatch that can emerge when |
| 2:00.6 | bodies mature faster than emotional regulation skills. |
| 2:05.8 | Okay, great. |
... |
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