Treatment for Teens with ADHD

Teens Can Experience Better Self-control, Focus & Success

What is ADHD?

Has your teen’s performance in the classroom begun to fade?  Does your teen struggle with focus or paying attention?  Do they have issues with keeping things organized or maintaining a routine?

Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, commonly known as ADHD, are often identified when academic responsibilities become more demanding (such as in middle school).  However, the symptoms tend to be present as early as two or three years of age (DSM-5). 

ADHD is one of the most common mental health issues for kids and teens (Froehlich, Lanphear, Epstein, Barbaresi, Katusic, & Kahn, 2007), although not all teens with attention problems will have ADHD.  This is because of the areas of the brain impacted by ADHD (see Rubia, Smith, Brammer, Toone, & Taylor, 2005; Yu-Feng, 2007), which tend to also be involved in other mental health disorders.

ADHD symptoms include inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that prevent teens from everyday functioning, such as academic performance, making friends, etc. 

Treatment for ADHD

The first step in treating ADHD involves accurate assessment of symptoms and diagnosis.  Many other disorders can manifest in similar ways, and the treatment is different for each disorder.

ADHD can be comorbid with other disorders, such as anxiety and depression.  For example, inability to pay attention in the classroom may lead to failing grades, which then leads to decreased self-worth.  Decreased feelings of self-worth may then lead to lower motivation to complete homework or attend class, and thus the cycle feeds itself. 

A diagnosis of ADHD typically involves the use of neuropsychological testing.  If you would like to learn more about testing for ADHD, check out the page on Diagnostic Assessment under ADHD. 

Once we have a clear diagnosis, I design a treatment plan to help manage symptoms and improve functioning in the affected areas (e.g. grades in school). 

Part of the treatment plan may involve having your teen meet with a primary care provider (PCP), psychiatrist, or other prescribers to consult regarding the use of medication. 

Although medication can be an effective way to manage certain symptoms of ADHD, medication for ADHD tends to be overprescribed in the United States (Jensen, Kettle, Roper, Sloan, Dulcan, Hoven, & Payne, 1999).  We will work as a team to determine the most effective strategy for treatment before moving forward with medication.