Jack was 16 years old when we first met. His mother was concerned about him because he was failing three of his classes, staying in his room “way too much” and seemed to be getting less responsible as the days went by. Despite threatening him, bribing him and “just trying to ignore it,” Jack was not responding to any of his parents’ attempts to intervene. After speaking with Jack alone, it became obvious that he felt anxious about his struggles with school and, in turn, felt angry and sad that he didn’t know how to fix the problem. He also had a hard time finishing assignments and projects on time, often waiting until the last minute and then rushing through and not doing a good job. He felt restless most of the time, hated sitting still and was happiest when he was out skateboarding with his friends.
Jack and his mom were both given a questionnaire and asked to complete it as it pertained to Jack. They were also asked to have two of Jack’s teachers complete a slightly different screening tool on Jack’s behalf. Once these questionnaires were returned, we used them in combination with Jack’s health information and history to diagnose him with Attention Deficit Disorder; combined type, meaning he displayed issues with inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Jack was started on medication to help improve his focus and concentration and decrease his impulsivity and hyperactivity. He responded very well. He also worked with me to develop tools to support his success in school and improve his interactions with his family. A combination of medication and therapy resulted in Jack improving his failing grades to two B’s and an A.
Facts About ADD/ADHD in Adolescents
- There are three types of ADHD: Inattentive (formerly called ADD), hyperactive-impulsive, and combined.
- ADD/ADHD runs in families. Teens who have one parent with ADHD are more than 50% likely than those who don’t to have ADHD themselves.
- ADHD is one of the most common behavioral disorders that happens in adolescents. According to the CDC, ADHD affects 11% of all school aged individuals.
What WellPsyche Patients Are Saying
“I’m so glad I decided to have Aiden tested for ADD. It runs in our family so I was pretty sure he had it but I also really didn’t want him to have to take medications that caused side effects. Our provider worked with us to find the right dose for Aiden and he’s doing so well in school now.”
Sharon, Aiden's Mom“The change in my daughter since starting therapy and medication for her ADD has been really positive. I’ve seen her confidence increase and she’s making friends now which is such a relief.”
Yalin, Isabel's Mom“Ansen was struggling to keep up with his course work his freshman year of high school. He was also doing things that were concerning to his father and me. For example, at 14 years old, he decided one night to take the family SUV out for a drive. We were shocked and really scared that he would do something like this again so we took him to see a psychiatrist and he was diagnosed with ADHD. This was also a shock to us but we were so relieved to see his grades and behavior improve with the right treatment.”
Carla, Ansen's MomDid You Know?
MANY famous and highly successful people have been diagnosed with ADD / ADHD including, pop star Justin Bieber; Olympic Gold medalist and swimmer Michael Phelps; James Carville, American political commentator and media personality; Simone Biles, American Olympic Gymnast and Gold Medalist; American Socialite and business woman Paris Hilton; and NLF player, Virgil Green, just to name a few.
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