Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD, AD/HD) is a neurological condition that causes inattentive or impulsive/hyperactive behavior, or a combination of both. Left untreated, ADD can lower self-esteem, disrupt home life, and hinder school performance. Many older children remain undiagnosed, especially teenagers who entered primary school before ADD was widely understood or diagnosed.

This bestselling guide to understanding and coping with teenagers with attention deficit disorder (ADD) provides complete coverage of the special issues and challenges faced by these teens. Teenagers with ADD discusses causes, diagnosis, treatment, and advocacy. The book helps parents identify and address the hallmarks of ADD in teens including:

• academic failure
• substance abuse
• driving problems
• depression
• poor self-esteem
• sleep disturbances
• troubled interpersonal relationships

Parents and educators alike will find Teenagers with ADD an invaluable resource that offers advice on troubleshooting, education, and advocacy issues. Most important, it provides hope and guidance for helping teens with ADD realize their potential. Helpful appendices include a glossary of terms, a reading list, and a resource list of support organizations.

Reviews

“‘Parents are probably the greatest single factor in determining whether or not a teenager with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) receives needed services.’ This sentence best describes the author’s belief that parents ‘know the teenager best, have strengths that are not always used, are the most effective advocates for their children, and are in the best position to coordinate the wide range of educational, mental health, and medical services that their teenagers will need.’ The author, a former teacher, school psychologist, state and national mental health consultant, and mother of two teenage sons with ADD, wrote this excellent book specifically to provide parents with needed information on ADD during the challenging years of adolescence. The book provides information from several sources: parents, teenagers, education, physicians, and national leaders in the field of ADD. Personal vignettes throughout the book provide vivid examples of the related topics.

Part 1, Understanding ADD, gives a good overview of the main core symptoms of ADD and describes in detail the various types, according to the latest classification in DSM-IV. Historical overview, evolution of symptoms along the years, diagnostic criteria, and related disorders are clearly described. Recent research findings regarding the genetic/biological basis of ADD along with the contribution of psychological and social factors are outlined. The author also discusses in length the diagnosis and its limitations, using many real life examples to clarify the text. However, it is interesting that the author emphasizes that the diagnosis is missed or diagnosed later in life in many individuals but does not discuss the more common over-diagnosis of ADHD. A model of a comprehensive ADD evaluation along with an evaluation of common related disorders (such as learning disability and certain mental disorders) is suggested. An informative table comparing the symptoms of ADD, inattentive-type (ADD/I/WO) ADD, and hyperactive-impulsive-type (ADHD) is provided. The author cites the Brown ADD scale which includes symptoms of ADD/I/WO, the more challenging type to diagnose.

Part II, Approaching ADD With Optimism, deals with the emotional impact on the family with a child with ADD. Numerous conflicts, daily friction, frequent crisis situations, and communication problems affecting the parent-teenager relationship are common occurrences. Secondary marital discord, feeling of guilt, and concerns about the future are all discussed. One of the more important messages from this portion of the book is that parents and professionals should try to recognize the teenager’s strengths and to reframe the child’s behavior in more positive terms. The author encourages parents to take an active role advocating for their child, joining parent groups, and coordinating required services. The parents’ goal should be to establish an individualized treatment plan based on the unique characteristics and strengths of their specific child. The key elements of treatment are extensively discussed. These include: medications, treating coexisting problems, classroom adaptations, classroom behavioral intervention, disciplinary techniques, building self-esteem, parent training, and family counseling. An excellent table for parent-teenager interaction is provided at the end of the chapter. This table emphasizes the principles for improving communication within the family concerning specific issues.

Part III, Trouble On The Home Front, discusses in length common behaviors of adolescents with ADD. The author provides a comprehensive table describing these common challenging behaviors and possible interventions. More serious behaviors such as aggression, substance abuse, alcohol use, reckless driving, dropping out of school, sexual activity and suicidal action, are extensively addressed. The author describes the warning signs for each problem behavior and suggests possible approaches.

In Part IV, Academic Agony, the author stresses that success in school is critical to building strong self-esteem, and she gives general strategies for ending academic agony. She provides parents with a detailed table containing suggestions for approaches to try at home to improve the teenagers academic performance. Common learning problems seen in teenagers with ADD and related classroom modifications also are given in a clear and easily understood format. She further discusses the implication of the federal laws that ensure that students with ADD are afforded the opportunity for academic success: Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, Part B) and the Vocational Rehabilitation Act Amendment of 1973, Section (504). The author discusses at length the meaning of these laws and informs parents of how to use them for their child’s benefit. Development of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) as well as examples of specific revisions of an IEP are given based on the specifications of the federal laws. The chapter entitled, There is Life After High School, gives several options regarding career choices and secondary education. For example, section 504 of the law can be used during the college and university years to accommodate specific learning difficulties.

Part V, Parent Advocacy, summarizes for parents the areas they can intervene and advocate for their child. At the end of the chapter, a form entitled, Understanding the Teenager with ADD, is provided. By completing it, parents can identify their teenager’s unique strengths, difficulties, and abilities to cope with various challenging situations. It may also be helpful to parents in designing a treatment plan. The last chapter has to do with teenagers talking about their life experiences with ADD.

Appendices in the book are very useful and include: sample Behavioral Management Contract, a U.S. Department of Education memo on educational services for children with ADD, a memo on the impact of ADD on school performance, and a resource listing of organizations and publications. The book is well organized and is very usable. Particularly helpful are the summary tables in each chapter that present the main points of information as well as suggested interventions in cookbook style. I have no doubt that parents as well as professionals who treat adolescents with ADD will greatly benefit from the provided information.”
--Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, December 1996

Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction

Part1 – Understanding
Chapter1: What is ADD?
Chapter2: Diagnosis of ADD

Part 2- Approaching ADD with Optimism
Chapter 3: Moving beyond Guilt, Anger and Fear to Optimism
Chapter 4- Treatment of ADD
Chapter 5- Raising a Healthy, Well-Adjusted Teenager

Part 3 – Trouble on the Home Front
Chapter 6- Common Behaviors of Adolescents with ADD
Chapter 7- When Teenagers Continue to Struggle

Part 4 – Academic Agony
Chapter 8- The Parent’s Role in Eliminating Academic Agony
Chapter 9 - Working on the Home Front
Chapter 10- Success, Not Just Survival in School
Chapter 11- Legal Leverage for Pursuing Academic Success
Chapter 12- After High School… What Next?

Part 5 – Parent Advocacy
Chapter 13- Parents Have Permission to Take Charge

Part 6- Teenagers Speak
Chapter 14- Wods of Wisdom from Kids

Appendix A- Sample behavior management contract
Appendix B- U.S. DOE Memorandum on Educational Services for Students with ADD
Appendix C- ADD: Impact on School Performance
Appendix D-Resources: Organizations and Publications
Index