Most children diagnosed with ADHD will continue to have the symptoms in their teens as well. ADHD in teenagers has similar symptoms to that they had when they were younger. The symptoms include disorganization, distractibility, hyperactivity, poor concentration, and impulsivity. It is to be noted that during teen years, ADHD symptoms may take a turn for the worse. The reasons are hormonal changes that adolescents go through and also the demands of school as well as extracurricular activities which are on the rise.
ADHD’s effect on a teenager’s life
It is unfortunate to note that poor concentration and distractibility lead to several problems in school. Grades are subject to fall, especially if the adolescent is not getting proper treatment for ADHD. It is fairly common in youngsters and teenagers suffering from ADHD to lose textbooks, forget assignments, become bored with routine classwork, etc. Teens tend to get either inattentive or excessively attentive which makes them blurt out answers even before they are asked. They may interrupt other students or teachers in class and rush through assignments. They could become fidgety and find it difficult to manage sitting still in the class.
ADHD in teenager make them focus so much on other things that they forget to focus on the job at hand. This is generally seen with doing homework, maintaining relationships with peers and developing athletic and motor skills.
Driving is also a matter of concern for teenagers with ADHD since they are two to four times at risk of getting into an accident as compared to teenagers without ADHD. This is also because of the facts that ADHD teenagers are risk-taking, impulsive, thrill-seeking and immature in judgment. Serious injuries and accidents are most likely to happen to people having these traits. However, those who take ADHD medications are at lower risk of causing accidents.
Teenagers with ADHD also have a propensity for alcohol and drug abuse than those who do not have this condition.
Treatment
ADHD in teenagers can be treated using a combination of both behavior therapy and medication. Behaviour therapy helps to improve behavior issue that is a major part of ADHD. Stimulants commonly suggested by doctors to treat ADHD in teenagers include methylphenidate (Quillivant XR Concerta, Ritalin), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), dextroamphetamine (Adderall, Adderall XR), dexmethylphenidate (Focalin, Focalin XR). Some non-stimulant medications include Kapvay, Intuniv, and Strattera.