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Teenagersand ADHD
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T e e n a g e r s
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Your doctor has probably just given you this
after diagnosing you with attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (or ADHD for short).
You may know lots about ADHD and how
it can affect you, or you may not. Almost
certainly you know how ADHD makes you
feel. This booklet should help you
understand more about ADHD and how
it can be managed. It also gives you some
leads on where to find more information
on what you can do about it yourself, and
how you can still be extremely successful.
a n d A D H D
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CONTENTS
Living with ADHD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
What is ADHD? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
What can I do about it? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
How is ADHD managed? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Medication and ADHD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
More information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
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About ADHD
LIVING WITH ADHD
It’s like trying to watch TV while
somebody is constantly changing
the channel. A bewildering stream
of changing images, sounds and
thoughts.
You can’t focus on one thing,
because something new is always
distracting you.
Sometimes you’re so wrapped up
in this whirl of thoughts and images
that you don’t even notice when
somebody speaks to you.
Parents and teachers keep telling
you off because you forget things.
Or do things that irritate them. Or
don’t do the things you’re supposed
to do. Even friends can be irritating
sometimes and it’s not fun.
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ADHD IS REAL
ADHD IS NOT A FANCY LABEL
FOR NAUGHTY CHILDREN OR BAD
PARENTS. ALL CHILDREN
MISBEHAVE SOMETIMES AND NO
PARENT IS PERFECT.
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
is a well-defined and widely accepted medical
condition. In the UK, some doctors use the term
“Hyperkinetic Disorder” but it means the same
thing.
As with many medical conditions, we don’t know
what the cause is. But we do know that:
■ ADHD tends to run in families
■ The brains of people with ADHD work differently
to other people’s brains. Certain areas of the
brain show differences in their structure, and
the way they work.
ADHD IS COMMON
AS MANY AS 1 IN 20 YOUNG
CHILDREN MAY HAVE ADHD.
MANY OF THESE HAVE NOT SEEN
A DOCTOR AND HAVE THEREFORE
NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED.
Boys are more often affected than girls.
Each individual is different.
The key symptoms of ADHD are:
■ Inattention – you can’t concentrate, you
skip from task to task, forget instructions and
are disorganised
■ Hyperactivity – you are restless, fidgety,
always fiddling and touching things
■ Impulsive behaviour – you speak and
act without thinking, and can’t wait your turn.
Sometimes there can be outbursts of temper.
What isADHD?
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Of course all of us are sometimes inattentive, restless
and impulsive. The point about ADHD is that these kinds
of behaviour are extreme. They cause big problems at
home and at school, and these problems have been obvious
from a young age.
Each individual experiences these symptoms in a different way.
With some people, inattention is the biggest problem; with
others it is hyperactivity and impulsiveness; others show
all three symptoms.
Sometimes there are other problems.
ADHD is enough to handle on its own, but
many young people with ADHD have
other problems too, such as:
■ Specific learning disabilities, for
example difficulties with maths,
reading or spelling
■ Anxiety and depression
■ Clumsiness and lack of co-ordination
■ Oppositional Defiant Disorder, where
the young person deliberately defies
parents and teachers, and Conduct
Disorder, where the young person
lies, steals and damages property.
9
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a
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■ Find out as much as you can about ADHD.
Good ways to do this include:
– Talking to people – doctors, nurses,
psychologists, teachers
– Reading books about ADHD – see our
recommendations on page 14
– Using the internet. There’s a vast amount
of information of variable quality. The web
sites we list on page 14 are good places
to start
■ Get into a routine where you need to, e.g. for
getting to school/work in the morning, or doing
homework
■ Don’t be afraid to ask your teacher/boss to
repeat instructions – it’s better than making
them up if you can’t remember them
■ Break down large tasks into smaller ones.
Set a deadline for completing each step and
give yourself a small reward when you
complete each step
■ Make a “to do” list for each day. Then plan
the best order to do things in. Then make
a schedule, showing when you plan to do
each thing
■ Work in a quiet area, away from possible
distractions. Take regular short breaks
■ Use a small notebook to write down
appointments, homework, phone numbers etc
■ Use post-it notes to remind yourself to do
things. Stick them where you’ll see them –
on the fridge, on the bathroom mirror.
What can I doabout it?
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INDEPENDENT MEDICAL
AUTHORITIES, INCLUDING THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH
AND CLINICAL EXCELLENCE
(NICE), AND THE SCOTTISH
INTERCOLLEGIATE GUIDELINES
NETWORK (SIGN), RECOMMEND
A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH:
■ Behavioural treatments
+
■ Medication if appropriate
How is ADHD managed?
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“Behavioural treatments” vary from child to child, according
to the child’s needs and the resources available. They may
be elaborate and intensive, or simple and low-key. They
include training programmes developed by specialists to
help young people control their behaviour and perform
better at school, such as:
■ Behaviour management training
■ Parent training
■ Social skills training
■ Anger control training
■ School-based programmes to improve
performance and behaviour.
Medication and ADHDMethylphenidate, the most commonly prescribed medication for ADHD, has been
in use for many years. Dexamfetamine is also prescribed, and more recently
atomoxetine has been added to the options available
Medication is not a cure for ADHD, but while
young people are taking it, it improves
the key symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity
and impulsiveness.
This table shows the current medications
licensed for ADHD.
Medication Dose
Short-acting methylphenidate 2-3 times daily
Long-acting methylphenidate (8–12 hours) Once daily
Dexamfetamine Once daily
Atomoxetine 1-2 times daily
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MORE INFORMATION
Books
Help4ADD@HighSchool
by Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D.
I would if I could: A Teenager’s Guide to ADHD
by Michael Gordon
A Teenager’s Guide to ADD – Understanding
and Treating Attention Deficit Disorders
throughout the Teenage Years
by Michael Amen (teenage son of Daniel Amen)
and Sharon Johnson with Daniel G. Amen, M.D.
Internetwww.livingwithADHD.co.uk
www.adders.org
www.addiss.co.uk
Organisations
ADDISS – ADHD Information Services
10 Station Road
Mill Hill
London
NW7 2JU
Tel: 020 8906 9068
Email: [email protected]
Please contact ADDISS for details of your local
support group.
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Provided as a service to medicine by
Item number: UK/CON/2011/0035-615928 Date of Preparation: May 2011
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