ADHD in Teens: How to Recognize Symptoms and Get Treatment

Does your teen repeatedly forget to turn in homework assignments? Do they get incompletes on projects because they wait until the last minute to get started, no matter how big the project is? 

If this sounds like your teen, they might have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This article will explain what ADHD is, what the symptoms are in teens, and how the condition is diagnosed and treated.

What is ADHD?

ADHD is the most common neurobiological disorder in teens. ADHD may be diagnosed in teens who struggle to manage their attention or have excessively impulsive or hyperactive behavior. A recent survey found that approximately 3 million teens were diagnosed with ADHD between 2016 and 2019, and boys were more likely to be diagnosed than girls. 

If your teen has ADHD, they may hide their symptoms. You might suspect that your teen has ADHD if they are having problems in school or aren’t getting along with other people. 

Teens who have ADHD may also experience other challenges that negatively impact their daily lives, especially if they don’t get help to learn how to identify and manage their symptoms. Studies show that teens who don’t get the help they need with ADHD are more likely to abuse substances, get into motor vehicle accidents, and develop mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder.

Spotting the signs and symptoms of ADHD in teens is the first step to making sure they get the help they need. With the right treatment, teens with ADHD do better in school and activities. They also develop better relationships with family members and peers. Treatment also helps teens harness positive abilities that are linked with ADHD, such as a willingness to try new things, creative thinking, and natural communication skills. All these things help build their confidence and self-esteem so they can become happy, healthy adults. 

What are the symptoms and signs of ADHD in teens?

There are 18 possible signs of ADHD in teens. These symptoms fall into two categories: inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive. To be diagnosed with ADHD, your teen must have several of these symptoms. These ADHD signs must have been present before your child was 12 years old. And, importantly, they have to get in the way of your teen’s daily life. 

Here are some common symptoms of ADHD:

Inattentive

• Fails to pay attention to detail or makes careless errors in school work

• Has difficulty remaining focused

• Is easily distracted

• Has difficulty organizing tasks

• Loses things frequently

• Is forgetful in daily activities

• Has trouble listening

• Has trouble following directions 

Hyperactive/impulsive

• Blurts out answers

• Has difficulty waiting their turn

• Frequently fidgets or squirms

• Leaves seat frequently

• Seems “on the go”

• Talks too much and has difficulty playing quietly

• Interrupts or intrudes on others

There are three types of ADHD: inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive, and combined inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive. Some teens only have inattentive ADHD symptoms while others only have hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. Teens with combined-type ADHD have inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive ADHD symptoms. 

Are the signs of ADHD different in teenage girls?

The CDC estimates that boys are diagnosed with ADHD twice as often as girls. 

Studies show that girls are less likely to get diagnosed with ADHD because their symptoms are often perceived differently by the adults in their lives. Tools used to diagnose ADHD rely on adults picking up on a teen’s behaviors. When adults don’t spot ADHD symptoms or attribute those signs to something else, teenage girls can get left behind. Here are some examples:

• Children with hyperactive/impulsive symptoms usually get diagnosed with ADHD quickly. These ADHD symptoms can be very disruptive, so adults are less likely to miss early ADHD signs and are more likely to make sure these children get help right away. Girls are less likely to demonstrate severe hyperactive/impulsive symptoms than boys are. The reason for this isn’t clear yet, but it likely has to do with complex and overlapping social factors. Regardless, the end result is that adults are less likely to pick up on their ADHD symptoms right away. 

• There’s evidence that girls are more likely to develop effective coping mechanisms. So they’re able to successfully manage their ADHD symptoms, sometimes for years. When they do start to have trouble coping, their behaviors are more likely to be attributed to other causes because they didn’t show obvious ADHD symptoms when they were younger. 

• Studies show that people with ADHD are more likely to internalize symptoms, which means ADHD can lead to sadness, anxiety, and low self-esteem, possibly because of the added stress that the condition brings to day-to-day life. Often, in girls, these internalized symptoms are sometimes attributed to a mental health condition like anxiety or depression and the girls aren’t checked for ADHD. 

• Because studies consistently show that boys are more likely to get diagnosed with ADHD, a vicious cycle can start. Adults start to think of ADHD as a condition that only affects boys, so they don’t look for ADHD signs in girls. 

How do you test for ADHD in teenagers?

If you suspect that your teen has ADHD, talk to their healthcare provider about your concerns. They will ask you and your teen questions to better understand your teen’s symptoms. Other adults, such as your teen’s teachers, coaches, guidance counselors, or activity leaders, may also be asked to fill out questionnaires. 

The information your provider gathers from these conversations and questionnaires may be enough to decide whether or not your teen has ADHD. If your provider is still uncertain, they may recommend meeting with a psychiatrist or having more in-depth psychological testing done to better understand your child’s problems. There aren’t any blood tests or brain scans that can determine if your teen has ADHD.  

Does ADHD increase the likelihood of risky behaviors in teens?

Some teens with ADHD may take more risks than their peers. Testing boundaries is a normal part of teenage development. But some teens with ADHD may tend to be more impulsive, especially if they haven’t gotten treatment for the condition. It’s true that ADHD has been linked to things like:

• Dangerous driving and car accidents

• Substance use and abuse

• Early and unprotected sexual activity

But that doesn’t mean that every teen with ADHD will engage in risky behaviors. Studies also show that teens who get ADHD treatment are much less likely to engage in risky behaviors than teens who have the condition but don’t get treatment. 

What treatment options are there for my teen with ADHD?

Treatment for teens with ADHD typically starts with medication. Many teens also benefit from programs at school designed to help them complete their work. For some, therapy can help with issues such as organization, study skills, and behavior management.

Medication

Medications are the most effective treatment for teens with ADHD. The medications most frequently used to treat ADHD symptoms are stimulants. There are two main classes of stimulants: amphetamine (such as Adderall) and methylphenidate (such as Ritalin). Other medications used to treat ADHD symptoms include atomoxetine (Strattera), clonidine (Catapres), and guanfacine (Tenex). These medications affect chemicals in the brain in ways that make it easier for teens to focus and control their behaviors. 

Work with your teen’s healthcare provider to determine the benefits, risks, and options related to medications.

Therapy

Sometimes, therapy can help teens manage their ADHD symptoms. If you would like your teen to try a non-medication approach, therapy might be a good option. Teens can also participate in therapy while they are taking medication. 

Therapy can help teens and their parents modify the teen’s physical and social environments in order to improve problem behaviors. Therapy can be done individually with a therapist or in groups. In individual therapy, a teen may learn skills such as how to organize their work and manage their time better. In individual and group therapy, teens can learn how to improve their relationships with family members and friends.

School involvement

If your teen is diagnosed with ADHD, they may be eligible for support services from their school. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a federal law that allows for adaptations to be made to a teen’s classroom environment if they have a disability that affects their ability to learn. This might include optimizing seating arrangements or adapting school work. An individualized educational plan also allows for modifications to be made to your teen’s learning environment. This might include access to special education services in the classroom or additional services outside of the teen’s main class setting. 

Support groups

Support groups are composed of parents of children and teens diagnosed with ADHD. They meet to exchange information and to offer feedback and encouragement to one another. These groups can be led by a mental health professional or be parent-led. Support groups can be a powerful source of information and community for families living with teens diagnosed with ADHD. 

There are also peer-support groups for ADHD teens that can help them better understand and manage their symptoms.

Are there other things I can try besides medications to help my teen?

Lifestyle changes can be important for helping teens manage their ADHD symptoms. Here are some things to try:

• Establish a regular routine. Help your teen establish a regular daily routine. This can include a regular wake-up time and bedtime. Your teen should also eat regular meals around the same time each day.  

• Encourage your teen to get plenty of exercise. Some studies have shown that exercise might help decrease ADHD symptoms such as hyperactivity. Exercise does not have to be organized or planned. You can encourage your teen to take a walk or dance to their favorite music.

• Make sure your teen gets enough sleep each night. The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recommends that teens get 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Poor sleep has been linked to both attention and mood problems in teens.

• Help your teen eat a well-balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. While research has not clearly identified an “ADHD diet,” studies continue to explore whether certain foods may contribute to ADHD symptoms.

• Limit time on screens. Digital media can have negative effects on a teen’s ability to focus and sustain attention. Have your teen shut off their device an hour before bedtime. Encourage them to participate in non-screen-related activities such as sports, board or card games, and reading.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Brian Clista, MD

Dr. Clista is a board-certified pediatrician who works in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a National Health Service Corporation Scholar in the inner city of Pittsburgh for 11 years.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts