The ADD Adolescent

What specific behaviors indicate that an adolescent might have ADD?

Efficient attention is required for success in all areas of life. As an ever-present filter between the individual’s external and internal worlds, it screens all incoming and outgoing information to and from the brain. In this way, attention has a profound influence on how an individual experiences events and behaves in all life spheres: school, job, home, and neighborhood. It interacts with other skills and abilities to shape the quality of social interactions, school/job performance, and independent functioning. Therefore, behaviors that suggest attentional difficulty can appear in any area of a person’s life. The following behaviors identify some of the more common red flags that might signal ADD in adolescent children ages 12 to 18 years old.

Adolescent (Twelve to Eighteen)

Not being able to organize free time
Failing to plan long-term assignments (e.g., reports, projects, and tests)
Failing to keep track of assignments
Writing disorganized compositions and reports
Demonstrating poor reading comprehension of higher level materials
Failing to pay attention to personal hygiene
Needing constant reminding/nagging to be responsible
Skipping school
Getting into trouble with the law; committing delinquent acts
Getting caught!
Getting off the topic in conversations
Interrupting and failing to take turns when talking
Flying off the handle and doing impulsive things
Behaving inappropriately in social situations without realizing it
Going beyond simple experimentation with drugs and/or alcohol

If you just recognized someone you know in this list, go to ADDBasics.org and download Dr. Liden’s free guide, ADD Basics 101. In 10 clear steps, Dr. Liden will guide you to an accurate, trustworthy diagnosis and outline what you should look for in an effective treatment plan.

Maybe you already have a child identified with ADD/ADHD who is struggling in school. Dr. Liden’s book, Accommodations for Success, is an amazing resource to help you understand your child better and get her the individualized help she needs to soar at school.