ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is defined as someone experiencing significant difficulties with inattentiveness or hyperactivity and impulsive behavior or a combination of the two.

Review the following lists of hyperactive and impulsive symptoms.

Hyperactivity symptoms:

  • Fidgets with hands or feet or has difficulty sitting still
  • Gets up when being seated is expected
  • Busy focusing on other things that they forget the task at hand
  • Rushes through assignments
  • Is often “on the go;” needs to be doing something all the time
  • Talks excessively

 

Impulsivity symptoms:

  • Blurts out answers before questions have been completed
  • Has difficulty awaiting turn
  • Takes risks
  • Acts before thinking
  • Interrupts or intrudes on others (butts into conversations or games)

 

Teens with ADHD may be impulsive, risk-taking, immature in judgment, and thrill seeking. All of these traits increase the chance of a car accident and serious injury. Still, studies show that teen drivers with ADHD who take the prescribed medication have a significantly reduced chance of accidents.

Teens with ADHD are more likely to be heavy drinkers than teens without ADHD. They are also more likely to experience additional problems from drinking. In clinical studies, researchers confirmed that teens with ADHD were twice as likely to have abused alcohol within the past 6 months. They also found that teens with ADHD were likely to abuse drugs and three times more likely to abuse drugs other than marijuana.

Getting proper treatment for ADHD in teens may cut the risk of later alcohol and drug abuse. Has your son been diagnosed with ADHD and is having problems with drinking or drugs or risky behavior? It is time to get him help.

Triumph Youth Services has trained and experience staff members that specialize in ADHD and other adolescent problems. They specialize is helping troubled teens. They offer a small, highly structured family environment for youth. In addition, the small class sizes provide more individual attention to students and they work with Individual Education Plans (IEP’s) as well.

The clinical staff at Triumph Youth Services has trained and licensed therapists that can provide a variety of therapy options and has been successful working with students with ADHD.

Contact Triumph Youth Services today for more information.

Reference:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002518/
http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/adhd-teens