ADHD Diagnosis in Teenagers
If your teen has been diagnosed with ADHD, you might be asking yourself, “What’s next?” Receiving an ADHD diagnosis for your teen can be difficult, but rest assured there are several treatment options and ways to support your teen.
First, let’s consider what an ADHD diagnosis means. There are three main types of ADHD. The first presents itself as predominantly inattentive. This refers to individuals who have difficulty completing a task, paying attention to details, following instructions, or even simply paying attention. The second presents itself as predominantly hyperactive-impulsive. This type refers to someone who fidgets and/or talks excessively, is restless, impulsive, or frequently interrupts others. The third type is a combination of inattentiveness and hyperactivity-impulsiveness, referred to as combined presentation.
Treatment for Teens with ADHD
Treatment for ADHD includes behavior therapy for both parents and teens, as well as medication. Developing a suitable treatment plan is crucial to your teen’s success. This includes collaborating with health providers, behavior therapists, and schools. In most cases, ADHD is treated with a combination of the aforementioned. Let’s discuss the behavioral therapy route. Behavioral therapy aims to strengthen your teen’s positive behaviors and eliminate the problematic ones. The therapy includes:
- Training parents in behavior management.
- Enlisting behavior modifications in the classroom.
- Training your teen on healthy peer interaction and interpersonal relationships.
- Organizational skills training.
In addition to behavioral therapy, medication can help teens manage their symptoms and control problematic behaviors with their loved ones. Two main types of medication can be offered: stimulants and non-stimulants. Medications can affect teens differently, so be sure to consult with your health provider for additional information. The CDC recommends that teens engage in a combination of behavioral therapy and medication for ADHD treatment.
How ROWI Can Help
The good news is that at ROWI, we offer flexible and comprehensive treatment for teens with ADHD and subsequent disorders. We provide teens with a customized treatment plan that includes evidence-based therapy, experiential therapy, and psychoeducation. All families will also receive one hour of family therapy to ensure the family is supported as a whole. In addition to behavior therapy, our teens will be treated by one of our specialized psychiatrists, who will explore medication options with you and provide ongoing support and treatment overview. Teens with ADHD will significantly benefit from treatment at ROWI as we also utilize PEERS Social Skills Programming, a program that explicitly addresses interpersonal skills and assists with managing relationships. Lastly, our program provides an educational liaison to ensure your teen has an optimal education plan that includes behavior modifications to succeed academically.
We understand that treating ADHD can feel overwhelming; therefore, we provide support and guidance throughout our entire treatment process because, with ROWI, you are never alone. Contact us today for more information.
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