Teens with ADHD have a very difficult life. This condition is one that you may not even realize that your child has. In many cases, the symptoms are so few that you do not see that it is there. In fact, they know it is, but you do not. ADHD is a learning disability and a behavior disability that causes many more problems than just a temper tantrum when they are five years old. ADHD teens face many problems throughout their childhoods and well into their adult lives. What should be done for teens with ADHD?

Here are some things you, as parents, can do for your teens with ADHD:

Get them tested for the condition. If your child struggles with remaining focused, seems to be smart but fails tests, or struggles with some of the simplest of things but excels in those that are more difficult, he may have this condition. Talk to their doctor about how to get the test and find out.

Medication. Medication is available to help children with ADHD. Before you questions if your child needs it, determine what the benefits of taking it would be. For some children, it can give them self control, self worth and help them to finally feel good about what they are doing. For others, it does not provide a noticeable benefit.

Give them time. Many ADHD teens will do well if they are given enough time to finish tasks and problems. For that reason, it is essential to clue your child’s school in on your child’s problem. They can provide extra help and encouragement for them.

Take the time to understand what it is like to be a teen with ADHD. Unless you have this condition yourself, you need to realize that it is hard. It is not their fault they can not pay attention. It is not their fault that they do not understand what they teacher is saying. And, it is not their fault that these things frustrate them so much so that they explode. Take the time to really understand them.

ADHD teens need extra learning help and they need emotional support. The teen years are already hard to deal with. Teens with ADHD have it just that much harder as it is.

Resources:

Help for Parents with Troubled Teens
Therapy Options for Families

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Do you know what you’re hoping to get out of your ADHD child’s treatment? Do you have a treatment plan that shows you how and why you’re working on a specific ADHD problem?

There are several important goals to strive for in ADHD treatment. Here are a few.

1. You want to help your ADHD child feel better about himself. Having ADHD is hard. It feels awful to be “different,” and ADHD is about as different as you can get without having some noticeable physical difference.

2. You want to help your ADHD child do better in school. Most ADHD kids are very bright, and most ADHD kids are underachievers. I know I was, and my son is.

3. You want to help your ADHD child follow home and classroom rules. Being in trouble all the time is a part of ADHD, and we all know being in trouble feels miserable.

4. You want to help your ADHD child make more friends. Social skills are difficult for kids with ADHD, and they’re often lonely. Just making one or two good friends can make a world of difference.

5. You want to reduce the ADHD behaviors that cause problems. This goes back to following home and classroom rules, but it’s more than that. You want to help your ADHD child get along in the world, because it’s the only world he has to live in, ADHD or not.

If you can reach these goals in your ADHD treatment plan, you’ll be on your way to helping your ADHD child live a happier, more successful life.

Angie Dixon is a writer and ADHD mom of an ADHD son, Jack. For a free report on helping your ADHD son, see Angie’s site “That’s My Son!” at http://www.Raising-the-ADHD-boy.com

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It can be extremely challenging for the entire family to raise a child with ADHD. But learning specific parenting skills in relation to ADHD is highly important for the health of the child as well as the relationship between child and parent.

One thing that is really useful for parents is to join a support group that is both educational and socially supportive. Listening to how others are coping with ADHD is one way parents can learn how to interact with their children. If you do not have a local support group, join an online forum or support group.

One very important thing a parent needs to do is set clear goals and limits for themselves and their children. This may be very difficult when you have both an ADHD and a so-called normal child. After these goals and limits are set, it is crucial to be as consistent as possible.

Give your child choices for what they can do. Do not tell them exactly what they will eat, wear and do. The more choices they have, the more independent they will be as time goes on.

However, do not give unlimited choices for each action. For example, the choice of clothing should be limited to two choice. The choices in food should be which two vegetables out of four available.

Keep in mind that a parent’s relationship with their child is essential in any family, but it is perhaps even more important with ADHD children.

For this relationship to work well, you need both time and a willingness to listen and notice. You must make yourself aware of the good behaviors not just the bad behaviors. Spend at least fifteen minutes to half an hour a day with your child with no distractions. Ask the child about their day. Try to eat meals with them as often as possible. Turn off all distractions at meal times — no TV. Simple things like this are the most important in keeping good connections with all your child.

Sharon Owen is editor and publisher of Answers For Your Health. For more information on ADHD see http://adhd.answersforyourhealth.com You want your health questions answered in plain language not doctor speak. Check out the articles and resources at http://www.answersforyourhealth.com

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