Kathleen Nadeau, PhD, is an internationally known pioneer in the understanding and recognition of girls with ADHD. She is the Founder and Director of the Chesapeake Center (thechesapeakecenter.com) in Bethesda, MD, one of the largest private ADHD specialty clinics in the US.

In 1999, Dr. Nadeau shared with her writing partner Patricia Quinn, MD, the CHADD Hall of Fame award for her groundbreaking work on girls and women with ADHD. Her book, Understanding Girls with ADHD, is in its second edition and it’s still a best-selling book.

For Kathleen Nadeau, her work on girls with ADHD is a mission-driven project. She herself has ADHD and has a sister, daughter, and granddaughter with ADHD. As a result, this is an issue of which she has a deep understanding. Although her book was written 25 years ago, there is still an inadequate understanding of, diagnosis of, and
specialized treatment for girls.

Although there are widely recognized differences in the ways that ADHD impacts girls compared to boys, treatment still focuses on the more recognizable symptoms displayed by boys. It is Kathleen Nadeau’s hope that treatment will place a greater focus on the anxiety experienced by so many girls with ADHD, as well as on the painful social interactions that are a difficult part of daily life for so many of these girls.

Kathleen Nadeau also hopes that teachers, parents, and clinicians will understand how easily girls can mask their challenges, appearing to do well while struggling on the inside. To make an accurate diagnosis, we need to get away from the standard parent and teacher questionnaires and ask the girls themselves about their daily struggles.
Much work remains to be done, and Kathleen Nadeau, after more than 50 years in clinical practice, continues in her commitment to helping girls with ADHD.