Signs of ADD in High Schoolers

ADD, or Attention Deficit Disorder, usually affects younger children but can occur in high school students as well. Symptoms seem to lessen as students age, or perhaps they just learn to cope better with the challenges posed by ADD, also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Medication and special education services can help students manage their conditions. The first step is to identify the signs.

Trouble With Concentration

• Teens with ADD have trouble paying attention and concentrating on tasks. This affects them the most in school and when doing homework, but it can also cause problems at after-school jobs or when simply doing chores at home.

Easily Distracted

• High school students with ADD get distracted easily from their tasks. Noise or movement in the classroom may distract them from their work, even while most teens simply tune out such distractions. Once distracted, these teens may also have more difficulty than typical teens getting back on task.

Irritability

• High school students with ADD may appear irritable or get in frequent arguments, disagreements or even physical altercations. They may get in trouble at school or in the community for this behavior. In fact, they are sometimes labeled "troublemakers" instead of receiving a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Impulsivity

• Teens with ADD tend to make impulsive decisions at times. Such actions may be related to their rapidly moving thoughts and difficulty sitting still. Their lack of concentration may result in them not thinking things through carefully. Their impulsivity may get them into trouble at home or school, or even in trouble with the juvenile court system. They may take many risks without thinking of the consequences.

Hyperactivity

• Teens with ADD frequently demonstrate hyperactive behavior. They may have trouble sitting still, bounce from one activity to another without completing any tasks, talk too fast and complain of racing thoughts. Hyperactivity can make it hard for teens to behave appropriately in the classroom and to complete homework assignments.

Trouble Sleeping at Night

• Due to their hyperactivity, high school students with ADD often have trouble sleeping at night. They may also have trouble "turning off" their thoughts and relaxing enough to go to sleep. At the same time, sleep deprivation can exacerbate other symptoms, such as irritability.

Alcohol Abuse

• High school students with ADD are more likely to abuse alcohol than other teens, according to Web MD. Of course, not all teens with ADD abuse alcohol, but teens with drinking problems should receive careful assessments for ADD and conditions like depression or anxiety disorders.