ADHD: An Age-by-Age Guide

Ages 13-18

The Teen Years
"Edward" wasn't hyperactive. In fact, his mother, Mary, describes him as "extremely" relaxed and quiet. She felt he was a very smart kid, but he struggled through school.

"His teachers were always writing comments on his paper, 'doesn't follow directions' or 'has trouble following assignments,'" she says. "He was easily distracted. Even his thoughts were distracting."

It wasn't until Edward was diagnosed in his sophomore year of high school with ADD, which has the same symptoms as ADHD but without hyperactivity, that he finally got the help he needed.

Research has shown that children usually do not outgrow ADD or ADHD. Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D., author of Taking Charge of ADHD, says when the syndrome has not been identified and a program of behavior management implemented by the pre-teen and teen years, problems often escalate. According to Barkley:

· Thirty to 45 percent will receive special educational assistance by the end of sixth grade.
· Thirty percent of teens with the disorder may experiment with or abuse substances such as alcohol and marijuana.
· Thirty-five percent quit school before completion.
· At least three times as many teens with ADHD than those without the disorder have failed a grade, been suspended, or been expelled from school.

Recognizing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in your child can be difficult to determine and requires a medical diagnosis. Symptoms usually start before a child reaches age seven and last for six months or longer. Seeing signs of ADHD doesn't necessarily mean that a child has the syndrome, so discuss your observations with your pediatrician.