Most teenagers would rather be hanging out with their friends than sitting in school and concentrating all day, but teens with ADHD have an extremely difficult time focusing for hours at a time. Teens, by nature, are impulsive, but adolescents struggling with ADHD have an even harder time controlling their impulses.
Signs and Symptoms
The three main components of a diagnosis of ADHD consist of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. Your teen might have ADHD if he can't concentrate while taking a test, has trouble completing class work and homework on time, loses things regularly, makes careless mistakes, blurts out answers in class, fidgets, seems restless or interrupts others, according to Teens Health. Teens who struggle with ADHD also have a hard time waiting for their turn and talk excessively as if the conversation is only one way.
Misconceptions
Many adolescents with ADHD get labeled as bad kids by teachers and parents. This occurs more often if the teen hasn't gotten a correct diagnosis for his problems. Teens with ADHD don't purposefully act socially inappropriate, lose things or lack focus, even though it might seem intentional sometimes. Many times they're just as frustrated with their problems as their teachers and parents are.
Treatment
Treatment for teens with ADHD includes medication, such as Ritalin or Adderall, and psychotherapy. The most common form of therapy used is cognitive-behavioral therapy. With cognitive-behavioral therapy, a counselor works with the teen to help her understand how her thoughts affect her emotions and behaviors. The counselor also gives homework assignments, such as requesting that the teen break her large science project down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Most of the time, family therapy is recommended, at least involving the parents, to improve communication and relationships among family members.
Parenting Tips
ADDitude magazine reports that parents should be consistent with discipline and not make threats they aren't willing to follow through on. If parents warn their teen that they'll take her cell phone away if she doesn't complete her math homework, and she doesn't do the homework, they need to follow through. She won't believe them in the future, and they'll lose respect.
Parents can sign a contract with their teen detailing rules about curfew, dating, grades and household chores. It's important that parents and teen work together to determine the rules and the consequences. If she has a stake in the process, she'll be more likely to abide by the rules.
It's important for parents to try to stay calm even when they're frustrated, to take a time out if needed, and to model appropriate behavior for teens.
Warning
Unfortunately, some teens who have a prescription for stimulants such as Ritalin sell the drug to their friends. Abuse of these drugs is on the rise among teens. Some teens without an ADHD diagnosis take them to lose weight and others take them to pull all-nighters before a big exam. Parents must closely monitor their children's medication.
