Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms in your child can include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity. As you may know, it is a real disorder attributed to an imbalance of chemical messengers in the nervous system. There are three basic subtypes: Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, predominantly inattentive, and combined. Most children have the combined type of ADHD.

Although it is normal for all children to be inattentive, hyperactive, or impulsive sometimes, for children with ADHD, these behaviors are more severe and occur more often. In order for a child to be diagnosed with the disorder, they must display symptoms for 6 or more months and to a greater degree than is seen in their peers.
These symptoms become more apparent during activities that require focused mental effort – school! A quick rundown on symptoms includes:
Symptoms of Inattention:
 Careless mistakes/lack of attention to details
 Lack of sustained attention
 Poor listener
 Failure to follow through on tasks
 Poor organization
 Avoiding tasks requiring sustained mental effort
 Losing things
 Easily distracted
 Forgetful in daily activities
Symptoms of Hyperactivity:
 Fidgeting and squirming
 Talking nonstop
 Feeling restless
 Trouble sitting still during school or at home
 Difficulty with quiet activities
Symptoms of Impulsivity:
 Impatient
 Blurts out inappropriate comments, shows emotions without restraint, or acts without regard for consequences
 Can’t wait turn
 Interrupts conversations or others’ activities

Treatments can relieve many of the disorder’s symptoms, but there is no cure. If your child is being treated by a physician for ADHD, he or she should see the doctor regularly – at least every six months.
Adolescence is a time of hormonal change and physical growth, and if your child is medicated, the dosage may need frequent adjustment.
Counselors or therapists may also be an option worth pursuing, and there are many available locally. There are also numerous accommodations that we try here in school and interventions that you might try at home to help your child through their teenage years.
Not all accommodations or interventions will work for your child, but some will.
Most students with ADHD have either a 504 plan or an IEP, and it is crucial to have written on these documents accommodations that work well for your student. That way you can be sure that their needs are being met by the many classroom teachers that your child will encounter in both middle and high school. Although we hope that your student will speak up if accommodations are not provided, teens do not always self-advocate. Having specifics in writing helps us all out. The following ideas have been proven to be helpful to
ADHD students, and some may work for your child:
 Seat student front and center, away from distractions
 Allow extra time to complete tests or assignments
 Allow frequent breaks during tests to increase focus
 Provide a copy of teacher’s notes
 Break down long assignments into smaller parts
 Cue student to stay on task with a private signal from teacher
 Ignore minor inappropriate behavior
 Check agenda for completeness
 Recommend binders with dividers and folders

 Praise or give positive feedback for appropriate behavior
 Allow gum chewing or using a stress ball to improve focus
 Allow use of i-pod during resource room/study hall to lessen distractibility
Children with ADHD respond well to structure in the home. They need assistance with staying organized and following directions.
The following ideas may prove helpful:
 Schedule – Try to keep the same schedule every day, and inform your child ahead of time of changes. Post sports practice schedules or days and times of extra-curriculars on the refrigerator.
 Homework - Discuss and have an agreed-upon time for homework completion. Some students like to have a break after school and others just like to “get it over with”. Study spots can include a bedroom, den, or kitchen or dining room table. Try to keep distractions at a minimum, but focusing is an issue also. Do not just send your student to his room for hours at a time and expect results. The use of a timer, parental checks, and frequent breaks are ideas that have been proven to be helpful.
 Organization – Help your child organize their room by having specific places for clothing, books, school supplies, CDs, and so on. Try to get that backpack ready to go the night before so relieve morning disorganization and stress.
 Agendas/Binders – Your student will be provided with an agenda from school; check nightly to be sure that work is being completed. There are many types of binders and dividers

available. A color-coded system with a different color folder and spiral for each subject can be helpful. Explore the school supply section of your local office supply store and guide your student towards choices that will work for them.
 Consistency – Keep rules and their consequences consistent and give lots of praise when it is deserved. A teenager does not respond well to stickers, but money for a movie works well!
Yes, that is inevitable, but please keep in mind that adolescence is challenging for all children, but for teens with ADHD, these years may be especially difficult. Most children with ADHD continue to have symptoms as they enter adolescence and some are not even diagnosed until then, primarily the inattentive type. Hyperactivity usually decreases as a child ages, but hyperactive teens may feel restless and try to do too many things at once. School and homework need to be balanced with extra-curriculars, sports, friends, and even a part-time job. Keep a close eye on how much your child is trying to do and if necessary, impose limits.
As your child advances into the teen years, they will become more responsible for their own health decisions. If medical treatment has been prescribed, be sure that your child continues to take medication consistently. Sleep and a proper diet continue to be crucial. Help your child stay focused and organized by posting lists of chores, practices, and work schedules.
All teenagers want independence and the ability to try new things.
Teens with ADHD often struggle with controlling impulsivity and tempers – yours and theirs – can flare. Rules concerning curfew, having friends over, and even driving (yikes!) need to be clarified. If

rules are broken, deal with your teen in a calm manner. Rules do need to be enforced, with consequences, but positive feedback is even more important.
Teens with ADHD need guidance and understanding from both parents and teachers to reach their full potential and succeed in school. And together we can make this happen.
Links
Attention Deficit Disorder Association – http://www.add.org
National Institute of Mental Health – http://www.nimh.nih.gov
References
Adhd.org.nz attention deficit hyperactivity disorder . (2009, May 07). Retrieved from http://www.adhd.org.nz
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2011, February 10). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children . Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/adhd/DS00275
National Institute of Mental Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National
Institute of Mental Health. (2008). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd) (NIH
Publication No. 08-3572). Retrieved from website: www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications

Kim Kelly
Lake Zurich Middle School South
8 th
Grade Instructional/Resource Special Education Teacher
847-540-2758 k.kelly@lz95.org