Common ADHD Symptoms in Teens and How to Help

Did you know that almost all children who are found to have ADHD still have the disorder as teens? ADHD symptoms in teens are similar to those that children experience and include having difficulty in retaining their focus on one thing at a time, being organized and maintaining it, having a short attention span, and being hyperactive and impulsive.

Experts find that during the teen years when hormonal changes of adolescence are combined with the demands of school and after-school activities and sports, these ADHD symptoms may get worse.

ADHD affects a teen’s life in several ways.

As anyone who is distracted easily and has poor concentration can attest, securing high marks on tests and listening closely in a classroom environment can be particularly difficult. Because of these ADHD symptoms in teens, many experience problems in school with declining grades. This will be especially prevalent if the teenager is not getting the appropriate treatment for ADHD.

Forgotten assignments, lost textbooks, and being bored with classwork can all be grouped under a lack of attention and focus, which is typical when considering ADHD symptoms in teens. This attention deficit can also swing the other way to hyperactivity which may lead teens to rush through assignments or blurt out answers, interrupting lessons through their inability to sit still and continually fidgeting in class.

It is also common for ADHD symptoms in teens to manifest through their inability to channel their focus better. So, while they are set on particular things, they forget about other things they were doing.

This lack of focused attention can negatively affect the quality of their homework, their ability at sports, or even their relationships with their peers. Bad grades on tests, repeatedly not being chosen for the team, or teasing by their peers negatively impact a teen’s confidence.

ADHD and the risk of car accidents and problem drinking.

Teens who have ADHD are twice as likely, and sometimes four times as likely to have a car accident than other teenagers without ADHD. This is attributed to the fact that ADHD symptoms in teens result in impulsive behavior and risk-taking, as well as making immature judgment calls and thrill-seeking. These types of traits make accidents and injury more likely.

However, teen drivers who stick to their medication schedules are not nearly as likely to have accidents.

It is essential for parents to closely monitor ADHD symptoms in teens that may push them toward drinking heavily or drug use. Studies show that teens who have ADHD are two times more likely to abuse alcohol, and three times more likely to abuse drugs than teens without.

By effectively treating the ADHD symptoms in teens parents can lower the risk of alcohol and drug abuse in their futures.

It is important for parents to discuss driving privileges with their teenagers as part of managing their ADHD. Remember, it remains the parents’ responsibility to set and enforce rules for safe driving with their teenager.

Irresponsible driving decisions do not start with alcohol and drug use; texting and talking on the phone while driving will likely occur first. Be sure that your teen clearly understands the boundaries of safe driving behavior, so they are better equipped to make decisions that match the responsibility they have to keep the law, as well as other motorists and pedestrians.

Getting help treating ADHD symptoms in teens.

If you’re looking for additional help on how to treat the symptoms of ADHD in your teenager, then why not browse our online counselor directory or contact our office to schedule an appointment? We would be honored to walk with you on this journey.