Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, affects a person's ability to fully control her behavior or attention level, notes About Our Kids website. Symptoms of ADHD can be recognized in young children; thus, when diagnosing an adolescent with ADHD his childhood will have to be considered to determine whether the chronic disorder is present. Generally, the symptoms of ADHD vary by gender: Girls display more signs of inattention, while boys display symptoms of hyperactivity, reports About Our Kids.
Basics
The signs of ADHD in teenagers focus on the teen's lack of attention, impulsive behavior and high energy. To be diagnosed with ADHD, teenagers must display the symptoms in at least two locations, such as home and school.
Facts
If ADHD was recognized early on and treatment was effective, for some, the symptoms of ADHD may have diminished by adolescence. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, or AACAP, about 50 percent of children diagnosed with ADHD stop displaying symptoms once they reach adolescence.
Considerations
Many teens will show signs that may lead you to think ADHD is present, such as being disorganized, not completing assignments, and having increased amounts of energy. But there is a definite difference between normal teenage behavior and ADHD. In a teenager who has ADHD, the symptoms are persistent, extreme, uncontrollable and have significant negative effects on her life, notes the AACAP.
Signs
Signs of ADHD in adolescence range in severity from individual to individual. Adolescents with ADHD are generally impulsive, easily distracted, full of energy, disruptive, disorganized, unable to change their behavior as a result of social cues, absentminded and constantly losing things, unable to follow instructions, have trouble listening, and are always talking, fidgety and restless in quiet and still environments.
Also, some adolescents with ADHD may demonstrate a hyper-focus, or intense and extended focus, on certain activities that they enjoy and are interested in, such as art or television, notes the AACAP.
Consequences
The symptoms of ADHD in adolescents, many times, are demonstrated by their consequences. When teens have ADHD, their peer relationships are generally negatively affected. These teens may have trouble understanding or reacting to feedback from others with whom they are interacting socially. This will lead to poor peer relationships and oppositional or argumentative behavior, notes the AACAP.
Also, teens with ADHD may engage in risky behavior, such as driving fast or stealing, with limited or no thought to the consequences, notes the AACAP.
