Children, adolescents and adults who struggle with ADHD make careless mistakes, have difficulty concentrating on things they aren't interested in, lack organization, get easily distracted and lose things. These issues can affect their ability to succeed at school and work and impact their relationships. Treatment can help to reduce these symptoms.
Effects
Children and teens who struggle with ADHD have more limitations than their peers. If they get distracted during tests and quizzes, they might receive poor grades. If they can't finish homework assignments and projects on time, they could fail. This can lead to a low self-esteem and the inability to pursue the career they are really passionate about. Adults with ADHD also experience limitations at work due to lack of concentration. When an adult can't complete his work on time, forgets important dates and meetings and can't pay attention during long meetings, he could get demoted or fired.
Treatment
Children, adolescents and adults can receive treatment for inattention through medication and counseling. The Mayo Clinic reports that stimulants such as Ritalin and Concerta and the nonstimulant medication Strattera are the most commonly prescribed medications for ADHD. These medications can help people with this disorder focus. If those medications aren't effective or result in unwanted side effects, antidepressants might be recommended. Through counseling, kids, adolescents and adults learn behavioral techniques to improve their ability to concentrate and remember things. For instance, a therapist might teach a child's parents to always make eye contact when giving instructions to make sure their child is paying attention.
Considerations
Schools should be equipped to assist children and teens who struggle with disorders such as ADHD. Many children with this disorder can't concentrate or become distracted during quizzes and tests, so they're given them in a separate location from their peers and are given more time to complete them. Parents usually have to advocate for their children to make sure that their children receive needed services such as individual counseling, extra time to complete projects and social skills training.
Misconceptions
People who struggle with this disorder can usually focus on activities and things they really enjoy. If a child loves to play video games, she might be able to sit still and concentrate on reaching the next level for hours. This can lead parents to wonder about the child's intent when she daydreams instead of completing her homework, but it's important to realize that the child doesn't do it on purpose. She doesn't intentionally lack concentration.
Warning
Teens Health reports that teens with ADHD get into more car accidents than teens without the disorder. Because teens with ADHD get easily distracted, having friends in the car or the radio playing can be too much to concentrate on driving. Parents should limit distractions to ensure their teen's safety and the safety of others on the road.
