5 Symptoms of ADHD in Adolescents Needing Counseling

Do you find your child being impulsive, having trouble paying attention to tasks or requests, and being very hyperactive during all hours of the day? Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often an undiagnosed condition that follows a patient into adulthood. 

If left untreated, ADHD frequently contributes to other underlying psychological ailments that affect someone's entire life and all facets of their relationships. 

As a parent, you need to understand the signs and treatment options available to your child and who to turn to if they have ADHD. As a parent, you also need to understand the financial ramifications and what this means for future insurance coverage. If your child eventually obtains life insurance in adulthood, do life insurance companies check medical records?

We'll cover some of these critical topics in this article to ease your mind as a parent and hopefully get your child the proper diagnosis they deserve. 

What Is ADHD? 

ADHD is a disorder that affects about 8.4% of children and 2.5% of adults. ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders in children. 

There are two types of ADHD: inattentive and hyperactivity/impulsive. Each has particular characteristics and symptoms. Scientists don't fully understand how children and adults get ADHD; however, there is a link to a pre-genetic disposition. 

10 Common ADHD Symptoms

There are different sets of symptoms depending on the type of ADHD a patient is diagnosed with. Although there are multiple signs, below are the top 5 of each type of ADHD that can quickly alert parents to seek medical attention for their child. 

Inattentive ADHD

1. Difficulty in focusing - Children can be easily distracted and they often have challenges with staying on task. 

2. Difficulty being aware of task details - Most children with ADHD can't follow through with instructions given to them and seem spaced out when listening.

3. Forgetfulness and a tendency to lose items or information - The misplacement of everyday personal items is common while also failing to remember critical daily tasks can cause more complex issues going into adulthood (i.e., paying bills).

4. Disorganization - There is a common trend of being messy, all over the place, and losing time. 

5. Avoiding critical thought-provoking tasks - Children feel overwhelmed with jobs requiring essential thinking or more extensive sets of completed tasks.

Hyperactivity/Impulsive ADHD

1. Inability to stay still - Frequently, you'll find shaking feet, frequent hand movements, squirming, etc. throughout their daily activities. 

2. Uninhibited communicative behavior - Those with ADHD frequently interrupt those who are speaking, can be intrusive, communicate frequently, and tend to blurt out phrases before someone finishes speaking.

3. Unsuitable and rambunctious behavior - Children will often run, mount, and climb objects at inappropriate times.

4. No peace or respite - Patients find it challenging to participate in calmer activities, and in some cases, cannot participate at all.

5. Impatience and inability to sit still - There is no off switch, and they are always moving around. Children have issues with waiting their turn and can't sit still.

Diagnosis - How do you get answers for your child?

There aren't any blood work panels that diagnose these behaviors in children with ADHD. After speaking to a primary care physician, parents are often referred to psychiatrists or specialists in their area to consider all their options.

The ADHD Rating Scale is a tool used for over 50 years to help physicians and specialists diagnose a patient. Questionnaires and checklists are a large part of patient care. These documents are given to adults who work closely with your child. Teachers, coaches, parents, and loved ones can all contribute toward a diagnosis.

Treating ADHD in Adolescents 

Although there are medications that can suppress symptoms of ADHD, it's best to try to combat as much of this disorder with natural remedies such as creativity, yoga, outdoor play, and music. 

Building a child's confidence and creating a sense of security for them is of utmost importance. Their emotions can quickly take over their well-being, and being able to lean on their loved ones and feel safe in their circle will bring them peace of mind. 

Counseling and therapy sessions can also be a critical piece of their coping journey with ADHD. There are many options for counseling, and as a parent, you'll be pleased with specialists who care about your child's well-being.

Treatment does not stop with the child who's been given this diagnosis. This journey will take a toll on the parents, siblings, and family members who will spend their time with the patient. To be the best parent and give your child security, you must be at your very best.

Anxiety counseling is readily available for parents, children, and teens seeking help. Don't be ashamed of feeling defeated, guilty, and helpless when handling a child with ADHD. This is a very tough road to travel on; give yourself grace as a parent. 

Embracing Life With ADHD

First and foremost, although moments might be grueling with your child, you must always know that these behaviors they exhibit are unintentional. Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder genuinely have little executive function. Organizing, controlling their actions, and completing a given task are truly difficult for them to execute.

The best way to cope is to make sure you are at your very best to parent your child. Stay healthy, meditate, keep a positive mindset, exercise to release stress, and give yourself time to enjoy a hobby. Lowering your expectations as a parent will relieve a massive amount of stress. Don't expect perfection, and don't get upset if things aren't picture perfect. 

Children with ADHD thrive with daily routines. Stick to a consistent and reliable routine that your child can feel comfortable following. Using timers and clocks is extremely helpful. Giving a time limit before transitions throughout their day will give your child some time to accept the end of one activity and the beginning of another. 

Overstimulation will likely be a common occurrence, so it's best to have a quiet and safe space for your child. This space will become a spot for your child to decompress after an emotional moment in their day. 

Keep their space tidy and straightforward. Have a spot for every item in your home. Ensure that the entire house has adopted this process and the whole family follows no messes and tidiness rules. 

Having activities to do throughout the day and keeping busy is essential for children with ADHD. Keeping these tasks creative and even having a lot of outdoor play will genuinely give your child a lot of happiness and contentment. 

As your child ages, you will need to look into auto and life insurance policies. While some insurance underwriting processes look narrowly at ADHD, others do not consider it a risky diagnosis. It depends on the provider's underwriting requirements.

ADHD: The Not-So-Scary Diagnosis

Life with this diagnosis can seem intimidating and overwhelming, but you won't know the difference soon enough. Embracing your child, their behaviors, and their ADHD will bring you peace and calm. Adopting some of the behaviors above will make life easier and the road to adulthood with your child a better one.

About The Author: Carla Hughes writes and researches for LifeInsuranceTypes.com. She is a mother to a young son with attention deficit issues and can relate to parents who are facing these challenging issues while raising their children.