Guidelines For Choosing A Treatment Program For A Teen With Add Or Adhd

Many adolescents who have been diagnosed withthe same pace as other students. An effective
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficitacademic setting will acknowledge the need for
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) experience a numberflexibility by maximizing accountability while allowing
of behavioral and academic problems that can limitfor differences in the speed of learning.
their success in interpersonal relationships, school, and4) Choose a treatment program with a low youth to
individual achievement. These adolescents may lackstaff ratio. Children with ADD/ADHD often require
self-control, have greater difficulty making friends andgreater amounts of attention from adults and tend
finding acceptance, be more likely to abuseto act out more when they don't receive it.
substances, become involved in delinquency, orOppositional behavior resulting from insufficient
experience anxiety, mood, and behavioral disorders.amounts of attention can be diminished when there is
Most health care and psychological professionalsenough adult supervision to go around. Remember,
agree that the best way to treat ADD/ADHD is withhowever, that the lower the student-to-staff ratio,
the use of both medication and behavioralthe higher the cost, so this factor must be balanced
modification techniques. The National Institute ofwith financial considerations.
Mental Health (NIMH) recently conducted a study that5) Choose a treatment program that minimizes
found that children with ADD/ADHD who receiveddistractions. Many adolescents with ADD/ADHD have
both behavioral treatment and individually tailoreddifficulty focusing on priorities which can result in
medication had the greatest improvement inmany partially completed projects and goals and few
oppositional behavior academic outcomes.accomplishments. The fewer the distractions and the
Upon diagnosis, many children and adolescents withgreater the expectation for accountability, the more
this disorder are prescribed medication as a firstlikely a teen is to make substantial strides in personal
attempt to control the symptoms. However, manygrowth and achievement. Common distractions
youth do not respond well to medication alone andinclude but are not limited to excessive access to
the symptoms of the disorder may be quitemembers of the opposite sex, unnecessary activities
pronounced or serious even with medication. If youor activities that are overwhelming, and large student
have reached the conclusion that you can no longerpopulations.
deal with the symptoms of your child's disorder6) Choose a treatment program that teaches skills
effectively in your own home due to excessivefor improving interpersonal relationships. Many
behavioral and academic problems, you may want toadolescents with ADD/ADHD lack the skills needed
consider a program that offers a specialized academicfor building and maintaining positive relationships. Look
program and behavior modification therapy. As youfor a program that provides opportunities for teens
research treatment options that can mitigate theto improve their communication, especially with
effects of ADD/ADHD, look for schools andrespect to giving and receiving feedback and
programs that possess the following characteristics:communicating honestly. Additional social skills that
1) Choose a treatment program that offers ashould be emphasized include appropriate anger
significant amount of structure. Adolescents withmanagement, impulse control, and delaying
ADD/ADHD typically struggle to use large segmentsgratification. Mastering these skills will ensure that
of free time productively but tend to thrive inyouth will have greater success making and
environments that provide limits and teachmaintaining healthy relationships in real life situations.
self-discipline. A structured program should include a7) Choose a treatment program that has a
rigorous daily schedule and a well-defined set of rules.systematic way of developing self-esteem. Teens
Adherence to a routine while acquiring of productivewith ADD/ADHD may have formed a negative
habits can greatly counteract common symptoms ofself-image due to the amount of negative feedback
the disorder.their behavior elicits from others and their
2) Choose a treatment program that fosters andself-perceived lack of competence in academics,
encourages individual accountability. Such a programinterpersonal relationships, etc. Programs with a
will enforce consequences for inappropriate behaviorstrong self-esteem component should foster identity
and affirmative reinforcement for positive behavior.development and encourage teenagers to drop
This type of a setting shows teenagers what typesself-imposed labels and limitations and put away
of behavior are acceptable and also helps them toimage pretenses that some youth use to protect
experience the rewards of acting in sociallytheir own vulnerabilities.
appropriate ways.8) Choose a treatment program that allows for
3) Choose a program that offers an engaging andincreased independence and leadership as behavior
individualized education component. Many teens withimproves. Such a program will recognize the need
ADD/ADHD struggle to adapt to large classroomsadolescents with ADD/ADHD have for autonomy by
and traditional lecture-style instruction. Academicgradually increasing self-monitoring and personal
settings that make use of hands-on learning,responsibility over time.
multimedia presentations, and other diversified,9) Choose a treatment program that is able to
interesting instructional methods are more likely toregulate and monitor medications. The successful
hold students' attention. Even with the right kind ofprogram should be able to safely store, administer
instruction, teens with ADD/ADHD may not learn atand adjust medications as needed.