Search Results for: blog will my child outgrow adhd looking ahead to the teenage years

Helping Your Teen Find the Right Doctor

Does your adolescent see a pediatrician? Does he or she see your adult general practitioner? Adolescents have unique health care needs that may need a special doctor. Here are some tips to help you and your teen find the right doctor. Look for an adolescent specialist. This is a pediatrician who has extra training in the issues that can affect teenagers — everything from acne to eating disorders. You’ll have to look hard, though: less than 500 adolescent medicine specialists were certified between 1996 and 2005. Make sure your teen gets some alone time with the doctor. Starting between the … Continue reading →

The Fourth Goodnight

Sunni, my thirteen-year-old stepdaughter with ADHD, has difficulty getting to sleep at night. Every evening the two of us go through a little ritual that I now call “the fourth goodnight.” Originally it caused me some irritation. After a while, I began to quietly tolerate it. These days, it brings a smile to my face. As it becomes later in the evening, I’ll watch her face begin to grow tired. It’s a face I know so well. Her eyes get glassy and she suddenly looks a few years older. “I’m tired,” she’ll say, pushing her long strawberry-blonde hair over her … Continue reading →

ADHD, Middle School, and Those Two Dirty Words

We were on a long drive, and I was trying to gather up the courage to tell my husband something. I knew it would be a little bit touchy, and I wanted to approach the issue in just the right way. After all, it was about his oldest daughter–my stepdaughter–and I knew he had very tender feelings for her. And I’d have to use two dirty words: special education. For months I had watched Sunni drown in her middle school classes. To read my previous blog on this story, click here. Despite working with her, meeting with teachers, and enrolling … Continue reading →

The Genetic Risks for Inheriting (or Passing Down) ADHD

Sometimes when a child is diagnosed with ADHD, the parent thinks, “I remember having similar problems in school,” or “My brother and I had the same behaviors when we were kids.” Often people don’t recognize their own symptoms of ADHD until their child is diagnosed. Yet statistics show that when a child is diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) there is two to eight times increased risk that one of the parents also has the condition. Evidence has shown a strong genetic link indicating that ADHD is passed through families. Even though some environmental factors may play a minor role … Continue reading →

“Mom, I need the car keys.” The ADHD Teenager & Driving

As a mom of teenagers, I soon face the dilemma of sharing the car keys. It’s a scary thing to think about. In just a few months, I’ll be able to watch my oldest child get into a vehicle and drive down the street. Yikes! I can already imagine the thoughts I’ll be grappling with… ”Will he remember to drive responsibly? Is he going to be distracted? Will he come back home, safe and sound?” As parents, we have very good reason to be concerned. The scary reality is that vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among youth … Continue reading →

Will My Child Outgrow ADHD? Looking Ahead to the Teenage Years

Since many of the behaviors associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are child-like, including impulsivity and forgetfulness, often parents suppose (or hope) that their child will eventually grow out of it. But statistically, your son or daughter with ADHD is likely to struggle with the condition well into the teenage years and beyond. And some children are not even diagnosed until adolescence. That’s because what seemed initially like childish recklessness becomes a more obvious concern as the child matures and cannot stop the behaviors. Studies have shown that 80% of children with ADHD will continue to have symptoms of inattention, … Continue reading →