ADHD:

A Guide for Teens

 

What is ADHD?

ADHD is short for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

 

There are three types of ADHD:

• The Inattentive Type causes people to have a hard time focusing or concentrating.
• The Hyperactive/Impulsive Type causes people to feel restless and sometimes to do things without thinking them through.
• The Combined Type is the most common type. It causes problems with both attention and hyperactivity/impulsivity.

Who gets ADHD?

ADHD is pretty common, even though more guys tend to be diagnosed than girls. Studies have shown that 3-7% of all school-aged kids have ADHD. It's usually diagnosed in childhood, but can sometimes go unnoticed until the teen years or adulthood.

 

ADHD often runs in families. It is common for someone with ADHD to have a parent who also has ADHD, although their parent may never have been diagnosed.

 

Remember that people with ADHD are just as smart as other people. Some people think Albert Einstein had ADHD. In fact, people with ADHD are often very creative and adventurous.

 

What are the signs of an attention problem?

A person with an attention problem might:

• Be easily distracted during a conversation or when doing something
• Make careless mistakes in his school work
• Have a hard time finishing school work, chores or other tasks
• Be told he is "lazy" or "rude" because he tends to put off or not finish important tasks
• Daydream when he is supposed to be paying attention (such as during a class)
• Have trouble following directions
• Be forgetful
• Lose things easily

What are the signs of hyperactivity?

A person with hyperactivity might:

• Move around and feel restless a lot of the time
• Have trouble waiting his turn
• Get himself into bad situations because he doesn't think things through
• Engage in risky behavior such as speeding while driving, drug/alcohol abuse, or unprotected sex without thinking about the consequences
• Have trouble getting along with people because he isn't able to finish things they ask him to do, or because he is impatient
• Get frustrated easily

What should I do if I think I have ADHD?

• Talk to your parents or your health care provider. Your health care provider (or a qualified mental health professional) will ask you, your parents, and maybe your teachers questions about how you act at home and at school. He or she will also ask about what you were like when you were younger, because the signs and symptoms of ADHD usually show up at an early age. You may be asked to take some tests that will show if you are having trouble with attention or hyperactivity. This process is called neuropsychological testing.
• Sometimes, people can have problems with attention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity because they feel depressed or anxious, not because they have ADHD. That's why it’s important to talk to your health care provider about your symptoms so he or she can figure out the best way to help you.

What is the treatment for ADHD?

The two most common forms of treatment for ADHD are medication and behavior strategies.

 

What medications can I take to help with ADHD?

Many people take medication to help them with their ADHD symptoms. The most common medications used to treat ADHD are known as stimulants.

 

Examples of stimulants are:

• Adderall®
• Concerta®
• Focalin®
• Ritalin®

A non-stimulant medication such as Strattera® can also be used.

 

Depending on what medication your doctor thinks is best for you, you may take the medicine once a day or several times a day. Some people find that they only need to take their ADHD medicine on school days or when they need to do homework. On weekends and during summer break, many teens even take "medication holidays” when they don’t need to take medicine.

 

Taking ADHD medicine can cause some side effects, such as loss of appetite, weight loss, trouble sleeping, headaches, stomach aches, and irritability. These side effects usually go away after the first month, but it’s important to tell your health care provider if they don’t. He or she may be able to change your medicine so that you don't have these side effects.

 

Are there other non-medication based things I can do to help with ADHD?

Some kids use behavioral strategies with or without medication to help them with their ADHD symptoms. Here are some examples:

• Keeping a calendar or schedule to help you remember important things
• Color-coding your notebooks for school or finding other ways to stay organized, like creating a to-do list
• Practicing ways to help you remember to stop and think before you do something
• Setting small and realistic goals for yourself
• Rewarding yourself for sticking to your tasks and achieving your goals

There are people who can help you think of what strategies would work best for you. Ask your health care provider for a referral.

 

Resources:

National Alliance on Mental Illness "Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder."
ADHD Success Guide for Teens 

 

 

Written by the YMH Staff

 

Updated: 11/13/2009

 

Related Information:

• Tips for Staying Healthy
• Related Links

 

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