ADHD in Teens & Young Adults
Why ADHD often shows up when the workload jumps, and what an evaluation can do for a high school or college student.
Plenty of teens get through elementary school on brains and a parent who keeps track of everything. Then middle school brings six teachers and long-term projects, or college removes every outside structure at once, and the system collapses.
How ADHD Changes With Age
The hyperactivity that's obvious in a 6-year-old often turns into restlessness, fidgeting and talking too much in a teenager. What tends to stay, and often gets worse as demands rise, is the inattention and executive side of ADHD:
- Starting assignments at 11 pm
- Losing track of deadlines and online portals
- Reading a page three times without taking it in
- Strong grades in some classes and failing grades in others
- Running out of time on tests despite knowing the material
- Impulsive decisions with friends, phones or driving
Why It Gets Missed
Bright students, quiet students and students without behavior problems often aren't flagged in the early grades. Many girls and young women have the inattentive type, which draws less attention. And anxiety, low mood and poor sleep, all common in teenagers, can either mimic ADHD or sit on top of it. Sorting that out is the reason for a full evaluation rather than a quick questionnaire. See ADHD or something else?
What Testing Looks Like for an Older Student
The evaluation is one full day in person. It covers attention, executive functioning, memory, processing speed, cognitive ability, reading, writing and math, and social and emotional functioning. For older students, the history includes their own account of what's hard, not only their parents'. Teens and young adults usually take part in the feedback session, since the recommendations are about how they study, plan and work.
High School and College Accommodations
High school students may qualify for a 504 plan or IEP. In college there are no IEPs; instead, students contact the college's disability services office and request accommodations themselves, with documentation. Standardized testing agencies have their own processes too. In each case, recent and thorough testing makes the request much easier to support. More on 504 plans, IEPs and college accommodations.
Common Questions
Is it too late to test a teenager for ADHD?
No. ADHD starts in childhood, but it is often recognized later, particularly the inattentive type and in students whose intelligence or hard work covered for it in the early grades. Dr. Tutty evaluates young people up to age 22.
Will a college accept the report?
Colleges and testing agencies make their own accommodation decisions, and they usually ask for recent, thorough documentation. A comprehensive evaluation is designed to provide that.
Does my teen have to agree to testing?
Testing goes much better when a teen understands why it's being done and has some say. The consultation is a good time to talk about how to raise it with them.
Do you offer therapy for teens?
Teen therapy is offered on a case-by-case basis.
Manhattan Office:
353 Lexington Ave,
New York, NY 10016
Contact
Phone
332-232-3696
Email
[email protected]
IN PERSON AND/OR VIDEO APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE
Contact Us
Tell us your child's age and what you're seeing at home or at school. We'll get back to you to set up a free 15-minute consultation by phone or video.