Common Behaviors of Teenagers with ADD Easy Reference Guide

A summary of the common behaviors, plus possible interventions, discussed in this chapter is provided, Most teenagers with ADD will have some but not all of these behaviors. More information on particular behaviors and interventions can be found on the pages noted below. As you become more familiar with using these strategies, you will find that you can often use them to handle more than one problem situation.

CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS

POSSIBLE INTERVENTIONS

Seek independence and freedom

Encourage independence
Trust until proven not trustworthy
Be observant of activities & friends
Consider compromise
Set up win - win situations
Offer an attractive alternative

Disobey/Conflict with adults

State rules clearly
Involve in developing rules
Write down rules/post them

Act younger

Adjust expectations
Ask his help in solving problems
Teach desired behavior
Impose consequence if necessary

Act impulsive

Anticipate problems
Avoid tempting teenager
Consider medication

Difficulty paying attention/don't see to listen

Make eye contact/use touch
Keep instructions brief and simple
Avoid preaching
Write instructions down
Accept his listening style

Forgetful/Don't do chores

Make a written list
Use post-it notes
Help get started/show how to do
Ask his help

Disorganized/loses things/messy room

Put name on possessions
Purchase less expensive things
Assist in being organized
Serve as a coach
List steps for clean room
Help clean room/garage
Close door to messy room

Lack of awareness of time/they're late

Use wrist watch alarm
Rent or buy a beeper
Teach awareness of time

Difficulty planning ahead

Teach planning
Teach time management

Difficult to discipline

Use positive reinforcement
Use logical consequences
Reward or punish immediately
Be consistent
Create new consequences/rewards
Use behavioral charts
Use rewards/may include money
Try "Grandma's Rule"
Avoid power struggles
Redirect interest
Give second and third chances

Low frustration tolerance/irritable/emotional

Listen/be supportive
Use active listening
Teach problems solving skills
Teach anger control

Argue/talk back

Ignore minor infractions
Walk away for conflict
Give space and time to cool off
Impose a consequence
Adjust medication

Don't accept responsibility for actions

Deal with problem behavior

Dishonest

If you know answer, don't ask
Eliminate some punishment
Develop plan to deal with problem
Impose consequence

Difficulty with family events

Keep outings simple/reduce demands
Keep outing brief
Look for creative solutions
Medication may help

Difficulty participating in sports

Play large muscles sports
Play an active position
Consider medication

Restless/easily bored

Get involved in activities and sports
Plan interesting family outings
Encourage hobbies & interests
Make special plans for Holiday

Seek material possessions

Allow to earn money
Plan for Holidays or birthdays
Purchase fewer, less expensive gifts
Express gratitude

Self-centered

Remind of special occasions
Invite to shop with you
Encourage to do things for others

Break things or have accidents

Handle accidents philosophically
Treat as would an adult
Discuss physical strength
Put expensive posessions away

Daring/have accidents/climb the unclimbable
do harrowing stunts/breaks bones

Encourage safe stimulating activities
Monitor level of danger
Provide supervision
Negotiate compromise
Ask others for help

Sleep disturbances/can't fall asleep

Establish reasonable bedtime
Prompt to get ready for bed
Establish bedtime routine
Don't start projects after set time
Consider compromise during crisis
Encourage exercise
Consider medication/conference with Doctor

Can't wake up

Buy alarm Clock
Connect lights and TV to timer
Try positive incentives
Consider compromise during crisis
Encourage exercise
Consider medication as last resort
Look for other causes

Difficult morning routine

Allow enough time
Get things ready the night before
Give meds immediately
Use logical consequences;

walk to school

leave on time or dress in car

give a 10 minute warning

take away driving privilege

Birds of a feather, flock together

Refer friends for treatment
Approach other parents with tact
Tell of treatment benefits
Encourage other friendships

Attention Deficit Disorder/Impulsive/Without Hyperactivity

Lethargy/apathy

Encourage physical activity
Consult physical
Get physical exam
Check for depression/meds if needed

Absent-minded / spacey

See suggestions re: organization
Anticipate problems/make adjustments
Medication may help

Slow Processing

Make adaptations
Have suggestions for schools

Attention Deficit Disorder/Hyperactivity

Attention seeker

Give opportunities to be center stage
Participate in activities allowing recognition
Discuss inappropriate attention
Ignore some behaviors

Intrusive

Set boundaries
Identify parent's & siblings space
Impose consequences
Teach to wait

Difficulty relating to others

Invite his friends on outings
Provide tips on relating to friends
Wait for teachable moment
Coach his team
Medication may help
Encourage having friends in addition to girlfriends

Permission granted by Chris A. Zeigler Dendy, M.S. to reprint this information from Teenagers with ADD A Parents Guide.

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Lethargy/apathy	Encourage physical activity Consult physical Get physical exam Check for depression/meds if needed
Absent-minded / spacey	See suggestions re: organization Anticipate problems/make adjustments Medication may help
Slow Processing	Make adaptations Have suggestions for schools

Attention seeker	Give opportunities to be center stage Participate in activities allowing recognition Discuss inappropriate attention Ignore some behaviors
Intrusive	Set boundaries Identify parent's & siblings space Impose consequences Teach to wait
Difficulty relating to others	Invite his friends on outings Provide tips on relating to friends Wait for teachable moment Coach his team Medication may help Encourage having friends in addition to girlfriends

CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS	POSSIBLE INTERVENTIONS
Seek independence and freedom	Encourage independence Trust until proven not trustworthy Be observant of activities & friends Consider compromise Set up win - win situations Offer an attractive alternative
Disobey/Conflict with adults	State rules clearly Involve in developing rules Write down rules/post them
Act younger	Adjust expectations Ask his help in solving problems Teach desired behavior Impose consequence if necessary
Act impulsive	Anticipate problems Avoid tempting teenager Consider medication
Difficulty paying attention/don't see to listen	Make eye contact/use touch Keep instructions brief and simple Avoid preaching Write instructions down Accept his listening style
Forgetful/Don't do chores	Make a written list Use post-it notes Help get started/show how to do Ask his help
Disorganized/loses things/messy room	Put name on possessions Purchase less expensive things Assist in being organized Serve as a coach List steps for clean room Help clean room/garage Close door to messy room
Lack of awareness of time/they're late	Use wrist watch alarm Rent or buy a beeper Teach awareness of time
Difficulty planning ahead	Teach planning Teach time management
Difficult to discipline	Use positive reinforcement Use logical consequences Reward or punish immediately Be consistent Create new consequences/rewards Use behavioral charts Use rewards/may include money Try "Grandma's Rule" Avoid power struggles Redirect interest Give second and third chances
Low frustration tolerance/irritable/emotional	Listen/be supportive Use active listening Teach problems solving skills Teach anger control
Argue/talk back	Ignore minor infractions Walk away for conflict Give space and time to cool off Impose a consequence Adjust medication
Don't accept responsibility for actions	Deal with problem behavior
Dishonest	If you know answer, don't ask Eliminate some punishment Develop plan to deal with problem Impose consequence
Difficulty with family events	Keep outings simple/reduce demands Keep outing brief Look for creative solutions Medication may help
Difficulty participating in sports	Play large muscles sports Play an active position Consider medication
Restless/easily bored	Get involved in activities and sports Plan interesting family outings Encourage hobbies & interests Make special plans for Holiday
Seek material possessions	Allow to earn money Plan for Holidays or birthdays Purchase fewer, less expensive gifts Express gratitude
Self-centered	Remind of special occasions Invite to shop with you Encourage to do things for others
Break things or have accidents	Handle accidents philosophically Treat as would an adult Discuss physical strength Put expensive posessions away
Daring/have accidents/climb the unclimbable do harrowing stunts/breaks bones	Encourage safe stimulating activities Monitor level of danger Provide supervision Negotiate compromise Ask others for help
Sleep disturbances/can't fall asleep	Establish reasonable bedtime Prompt to get ready for bed Establish bedtime routine Don't start projects after set time Consider compromise during crisis Encourage exercise Consider medication/conference with Doctor
Can't wake up	Buy alarm Clock Connect lights and TV to timer Try positive incentives Consider compromise during crisis Encourage exercise Consider medication as last resort Look for other causes
Difficult morning routine	Allow enough time Get things ready the night before Give meds immediately Use logical consequences; walk to school leave on time or dress in car give a 10 minute warning take away driving privilege
Birds of a feather, flock together	Refer friends for treatment Approach other parents with tact Tell of treatment benefits Encourage other friendships