We all know kids who can’t sit still, who never seem to listen, who blurt out inappropriate comments, or don’t follow instructions no matter how clearly you present them.  Does this sound like it was you?  Or your teen?

While it’s normal for kids to forget their homework, daydream during class, or act without thinking, inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity are also signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. ADHD makes it difficult for a person to inhibit their spontaneous responses, including everything from movement to speech to assertiveness.

These issues can persist through adolescence and even into adulthood.

Some people with ADHD may be constantly in motion, bouncing off the walls, bouncing there knees, and sometimes even disrupting others around them. Others with ADHD may sit quietly, with their attention miles away.

There are three primary characteristics of ADHD: Inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, though all three aren’t always prominent in one person.

Adolescents with ADHD may:

• Have trouble staying focused or get easily distracted
• Appear not to be listening when spoken to
• Constantly fidget and squirm
• Talk excessively
• Act without thinking
• Interrupt often, or say the wrong thing at the wrong time
• Have a quick temper or “short fuse”

Whether or not your symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are due to ADHD, they can cause problems if left untreated. Teens and adults who can’t focus or control themselves or get into trouble at school or work often find it hard to make friends. These frustrations, accumulating since early childhood can lead to low self-esteem as well as friction for the whole family.

Treatment can make a dramatic difference in your symptoms. With the right support, you can get on track for success in all areas of life.

If you’re interested in learning more about ADD and ADHD therapy, contact me today for a free consultation. I would be happy to share how I can help you (or your teen) achieve success and grow.