Attention Deficit Disorder Without Hyperactivity in Teenagers

Attention Problems

• Teens with ADHD without hyperactivity often have trouble paying attention at school. Unless the ADHD student is specifically engaged in what's going on, she can get bored and is easily distracted. This inattentiveness can make note-taking a challenge, and teens can be unable to focus on school assignments. Students can miss important information during class lectures and score poorly on tests. It is common for ADHD teens to fall behind in their school work and feel depressed and defeated, as they spend much of the school year trying to catch up to their peers.

Executive Function

• Teens with ADHD have problems with executive function issues, which means they have a hard time with organization, memorization and sequences. This lack of organization can make it challenging to structure writing, or to complete school projects on time. Memorization and sequencing difficulties can lead to problems with performance in math, history or science. Disorganized teens can often lose important homework papers or schoolbooks and miss assignments. Misreading and following directions can be challenging for those with ADHD, leading to poor test results and low grades in school overall. ADHD teens can have difficulties estimating how much time it will take to get to class and be late often, or be unable to finish assignments because of poor time management skills.

Social Stigma

• Middle and high schoolers with ADHD are often teased for ̶0;zoning out̶1; during lectures, or for being unable to follow along with class conversations. Self-esteem is a common problem in teens with ADHD. Positive reinforcement should be used as often as possible to reassure teens that their hard work is noticed and will pay off with academic success. Typically, teens with ADHD are picked last during gym activities, as their inattentiveness makes them an unpopular choice for team sports.

Safety Issues

• ADHD teens have four times as many car wrecks and are seven times more likely to have a second accident than their typical peers, according to "ADDitude" magazine. Poor judgment and inattentiveness can cause teens to miss important traffic signals or get lost while driving often, making driving hazardous. Teens with ADHD should take extra care when driving an automobile.

Treatment

• Some families will choose to treat their teens with medication that stimulates the parts of the brain responsible for focus and attention. The American Academy of Pediatrics urges parents to have all ADHD medication prescribed by a reputable physican, who will closely monitor the child for any unwanted side effects. Some teens may find relief of symptoms through traditional psychotherapy, where behaviors, organizational methods and coping skills are taught by the therapist. Many teens with ADHD respond effectively to daily exercise, as aerobic activity stimulates chemicals in the brain responsible for mood, energy and attentiveness, according to John Ratey, M.D., an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Aerobic exercise has helped some Olympic and professional athletes with ADHD stay on track, but there are also benefits from simply walking 30 minutes per day. Ratey says that the best kind of exercise for ADHD is aerobic activity that requires focus and attention to detail: Taekwondo, ballet, figure skating and rock climbing are all excellent choices for teens with the disorder.

Positives of ADHD

• Many people with ADHD are extremely creative and are good at multi-tasking. A child̵7;s daydreams can make school tasks challenging; however, those same dreams could fuel wonderful works of art or creative writing. Being able to do several things at the same time can be useful in certain professions. A number of successful artists, musicians, actors, writers, athletes, inventors and innovators have learned to channel their ADHD into positive energy that fuels their creations. Teens should be taught to compensate for the difficulties of their condition, treat their ADHD in the best way possible for them and be inspired by positive role models to succeed in life.