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Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Teens
Teen attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the more common mental health disorders affecting adolescents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 11% of US children are diagnosed with ADHD, with the disorder affecting more boys than girls.
At Nexus Teen Academy, we help Arizona teens with ADHD and other mental health disorders learn to create meaning and purpose in their lives. If you are trying to find help for your teen with ADHD in Arizona, Nexus is a premier adolescent residential treatment center that offers both evidence-based and holistic treatment, including individual and group therapies, family therapy, meditation, mindfulness, and more.
To learn more about our individualized treatment offerings and how our program can help your teen, call our team today and tell us about your situation. We can provide expert insight and help give you a path forward.
Understanding Teens and ADHD
ADHD, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a mental health developmental disorder that can interfere with an individual’s daily life, making social, academic, and other tasks more difficult to complete.
Along with ADHD, many teenagers will experience other mental health conditions that will only exacerbate these problems and lead to more dangerous symptoms. Some of the most common types of co-occurring disorders for teens with ADHD include anxiety and depression.
Now, let’s get a better understanding of some of the common signs and symptoms of teen ADHD so you can better identify the problem on your own.
Signs of ADHD in Teens
If you are wondering if your teen may be struggling with ADHD, here are a few of the most common signs of teen ADHD that you can look for
Difficulty Paying Attention
One of the most tell-tale signs of ADHD is the inability to pay attention or focus for extended periods of time.
Some common signs that your teen is struggling to keep their attention include:
- Difficulty paying attention to details
- Constantly losing items or forgetting where they were placed
- Being easily distracted
- Difficulty managing time and meeting deadlines
- Difficulty listening, even when spoken to directly
- Difficulty completing tasks that require consistent attention
Hyperactivity
Hyperactivity comes from having a lot of energy or talking a lot. This can be even more pronounced for teens who often have a lot of energy anyway.
Some of the signs of hyperactivity in teens include:
- Constant fidgeting while seated
- Moving around when expected to be seated
- Moving around at inappropriate times
Impulsivity
A lack of impulse control and acting without thinking of the effects or consequences is another common sign of teen ADHD. This can be further exacerbated in adolescents due to a lack of brain development.
Here are a few things to look for when identifying teen impulsiveness:
- Struggling to exhibit patience
- Talking excessively or constantly
- Interrupting others
- Intruding on others during activities
Symptoms of ADHD in Teens
Along with some of the common signs and symptoms of ADHD in adolescents, it is important to be able to recognize common symptoms of the disorder and how it may affect other aspects of an individual’s day-to-day life.
Poor Time Management
One key aspect that people with ADHD struggle with is time management. Many teens with ADHD will have difficulty with organizational tasks, including time management and planning, both of which can lead to serious problems in their academic performance.
Difficulty Managing Emotions
Managing emotions is a difficult thing for nearly all adolescents and teens. However, the problem becomes even more challenging when talking about teens with ADHD as they generally will have a low frustration threshold, be more impatient, and get angry more quickly.
Increased Risky Behaviors
Adolescents with ADHD have been shown to engage in increased risk-taking behaviors. Some of the common behaviors reported include substance abuse, risky driving, and risky sexual behaviors.
Gender Differences of Teen ADHD
Like most mental health disorders, teen ADHD affects males and females differently, which leads to slight nuances in treatment methods and how these disorders should be handled.
ADHD in Teen Girls
Attention deficit disorder is diagnosed more frequently in males than females. While this may sound like it occurs more in males than females, some research suggests that ADHD in girls in more consistently underidentified and underdiagnosed. Additionally, females with ADHD have been shown to have higher self-reported levels of anxiety. Unfortunately, this means that for teen girls, it is vital to find an ADHD treatment program that can assist with other aspects of mental health treatment, including teen anxiety treatment.
ADHD in Teen Boys
For teen boys with ADHD, one of the key considerations is the aspect of risky behaviors. Studies have shown that teen boy ADHD has a correlation with rule-breaking. This increased risk of dangerous behaviors can lead to an array of other potential problems for teen boys with ADHD, including an increased risk of substance use disorder, drunk driving, and the development of STDs.
ADHD Treatment for Teens
Like most forms of mental health treatment, teen ADHD treatment will depend on the adolescent’s specific situation. That said, there are still a few commonalities and consistencies that you may see between various treatment programs, let’s exam+ine a few.
Psychotherapy and Counseling
There are many forms of individual and group therapy options that have been shown to help teens and adolescents with ADHD. One common form that is considered a gold standard in the mental health space is teen cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of counseling helps clieents change and adjust their thoughts and attitudes to triggering stimuli. Another type of beneficial therapy is family counseling.
Medication
ADHD medications can be used in conjunction with therapy to achieve enhanced treatment outcomes. ADHD medications help clients manage distracting and disruptive symptoms so that they can better focus on treatment goals and implement life skills into their day-to-day lives more effectively. Some of the common types of medications used to help ADHD include:
- Stimulant medications like methylphenidate and amphetamine
- Non-stimulant medications like clonidine and atomoxetine
- Antidepressant medications
Private Insurance Plans Accepted
We work with most major insurance providers. You can confidentially check to see if your treatment is covered by insurance. Our admissions experts are here to guide you through the process.
How To Get Started With Teen Anxiety Treatment?
Whether your child is beginning or continuing their recovery, getting into Nexus Academy’s Residential Program is a simple 3-step process that begins with one simple outreach.
The initial phone call
Tell us your teen’s story, explore treatment options, and discuss payment options.
Pre-screening
Confirm treatment, verify insurance coverage, and review details about what to expect.
Start Therapy
Arrive at Nexus Teen Academy, meet our staff, tour the facility, and get settled in.
Nexus Teen Academy
Phoenix
Arizona Teen ADHD Treatment at Nexus Teen Academy
Nexus Teen Academy’s teen mental health treatment center in Arizona is a 30 to 90-day program that focuses on helping restore your teen’s sense of self-worth and improving their overall quality of life. At Nexus, family is a core component of our treatment offerings. We have weekly family empowerment groups conducted by a family therapist as regular weekly family therapy, and an hour of family visitation each week. We understand how important it is to include the family during the healing process and have structured our program to account for this.
Moreover, we offer many forms of individual evidence-based and holistic treatment offerings, including CBT, DBT, equine therapy, motivational interviewing, mindfulness exercises, and more. This is all provided near our beautiful and secluded Cave Creek facility nestled in the Desert Mountains of Arizona.
To learn more about our offerings and how we can help with your teen’s specific situation, contact our intake team today and we can walk you through our process.