Every child is asked what they want to be when they grow up. Their answers reflect their ambitions in life. However, although they might want to reach their goals, especially in school, they get pulled back if they are not in their best shape.
Mental health conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), prevent children and teens from focusing on their tasks. It affects their overall functioning as a student and eventually as a working adult. However, it is essential to understand that all problems have solutions, even ADHD and that they are not alone in this battle. Help your child find their purpose by following these tips on how they can work well in school.
What Does ADHD Look Like in Teens?
ADHD is a mental and behavioral condition characterized by several chronic problems. Such as difficulty focusing, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. Most teenagers with ADHD struggle to get tasks done or turn in their work despite finishing it.
This is a mental health illness, not a behavioral episode that comes and goes. Most symptoms persist over time, especially when trigger factors are present. Furthermore, in social or educational groups, teens with ADHD are either disruptive or not functional. Your teen may need to undergo medical evaluation if they exhibit the following signs of ADHD:
- Decreasing attention span as compared to other friends and classmates.
- Having the constant need to seek teacher’s intervention when doing tasks.
- Avoiding work that requires consistent attention.
- Daydreaming instead of completing tasks.
- Showing hyperactivity and fidgety movements.
- Disrupting classroom setups by standing and leaving their seats.
- Loitering inside the classroom.
- Talking inappropriately and sometimes offensively.
- Having daily arguments about who should do the chores at home.
- Having frequent mood swings and aggressive reactions.
5 Vital Tips to Help Students with ADHD Succeed Academically
To alleviate the concerns and struggles of parents of teens with ADHD, we have listed five vital tips to help them succeed in school.
Look for a tutor
School tutors assist students in accomplishing their homework and help with topics that are too complicated for them to understand. If you are having a hard time looking for a tutor who can fully understand their mental condition, and if you have the necessary time and capacity, you can try to be your child’s tutor.
Ask questions, listen, and empathize with your child.
Establish a safe space and healthy communication with your child by asking them questions, like how their day went or what they ate for lunch at school. When talking to your child, actively listen to them and avoid invalidating their feelings. If they talk about their struggles with their academic requirements, instead of saying something like “It’s all in your head,” try responding with “I can try to help you if you want me to.” Doing so will make a friendlier connection with your teen, who will be more likely to open up and share their thoughts.
Help your teen organize their lifestyle.
Teens with ADHD often struggle with achieving their academic goals due to a lack of focus and motivation. An organized living environment helps them find their purpose, making them feel that they still belong with the other kids their age. It also helps them reflect on their inner world and how they can relate to the events of the external environment. To improve your child’s organizational skills, assist them in setting up daily routines. You may consider writing an organizational plan and posting it in their room or your refrigerator for easy access.
Spend some family time
Try spending quality time with your family by doing enjoyable activities at home or outdoors. These activities help everyone release their stress and declutter their thoughts, making them more efficient in decision-making.
Work with your teen's school counselor or mental health therapist.
Teens with ADHD can feel comfortable talking about their struggles to people who will not judge them, like counselors and mental health therapists. Professionals know the best approaches to communicating with teens with mental health conditions such as ADHD.
At Key Healthcare, we want what’s best for your teen, so we provide a comprehensive and well-planned system tailor-made to their mental health condition. We do our best to work with your teen’s teachers and counselors so as to understand their academic performance and what we can do to help.
Furthermore, we extend this help to the family by ensuring that the positive results of individual teen therapy sessions linger even when teens return home. In addition, our teen outpatient program (Teen IOP) is one of the most effective treatment programs we can provide for your child. Remember that you are not alone in battling the challenges brought by ADHD; we are here for you.
What Can Teachers Do?
To accommodate classes that have students with ADHD, teachers can improve the classroom setup by making a seating arrangement for the students. Seat plans are usually created to help students focus on learning rather than talking with seatmates during class hours. Furthermore, innovative student activities and changing how the information is delivered can also improve their learning abilities.
Before starting a lesson, teachers may provide ice-breaker activities, games, or physical exercises to boost their energy in the morning. They may also improve the classroom atmosphere by allowing students to voice their opinions during lessons. If they feel comfortable, teachers may also plan class recitations to ensure that they participate and do not lose their focus in the middle of the session.
It is vital to ensure that kids are able to understand the key takeaways of the topics discussed. For at least five to ten minutes before the bell rings, teachers may ask the students what they learned and struggled with. This lets them open up and allows you to determine what you could improve on the following days.
Takeaway
ADHD is a severe mental health issue that cannot be neglected. The population of teens with ADHD continues to grow in the US and worldwide. Some symptoms are evident and easy to notice; however, some teens are good at hiding them.
If your child is struggling, the best thing to do is support them. Never blame or judge them for what they are going through. ADHD should not hinder their journey to success. Support your kids in achieving their goals by doing all that you can as their parents.
You are not alone in this battle. If you need professional help for your teen with ADHD, feel free to reach out to us today.
