Teens and high school

We all know the high school years are the years when classroom and homework assignments become more complex, so helping your teen to keep focused is critical.

But having ADHD can make this difficult. Classroom lectures, research reports and long-term projects are the typical performance hallmarks that separate the early school years from the high school years. While it was once assumed that by the time children reached adolescence they would likely "outgrow" their ADHD symptoms, research has shown this is not the case for many teens. For some, the hyperactivity component of ADHD decreases, but the inattention aspect of ADHD actually becomes more challenging.

So, how can parents and teachers help a teen with ADHD in high school?

Don't underestimate the importance of a comprehensive ADHD treatment program

Complementing your teen's medication therapy with a behavioural management program is often referred to as a "comprehensive treatment program".

A comprehensive treatment program is an approach to managing the symptoms of ADHD, and it includes more than medication. It brings together education, behaviour modification and, most importantly, team support to make living with ADHD easier. While this type of program involves "modifying" the behavior of the teen (i.e. changing when homework is done, how chores are completed, how success is defined), it also encourages a focus on success rather than problems, so that appropriate and mature behaviour is encouraged, reinforced and rewarded.

Set up a meeting with your teen's teacher

Setting up a discussion meeting with your teen's teacher creates an environment where both of you can focus on your teen. Here are some strategies you can ask the teacher to put in place to help your teen succeed in the classroom.

• "Can my child be moved to the front of the class to eliminate any classroom distractions?"
• "Can my child (and I) receive frequent feedback on his/her assignments and tests to make us all aware of the areas that need improvement?"
• "Can my child have a textbook that allows him/her to highlight the appropriate text?"

These are just a few ideas. Together, you and the teacher can brainstorm some additional ways to improve the classroom situation for your teenager.

Manage distractions

If your teenager finds that time continues to just "slip away" before homework or studies are accomplished, ask your teen to start observing, even noting, what distractions get in the way. Ask your teen: "Are you distracted by your own thoughts?" "Are you spending too much time emailing or instant messaging your friends?" "Are you compelled to answer the phone when your friends call?" Once you both become clear on what the specific distractions are, perhaps you can create a plan together to overcome them when they happen.

The importance of organisation

Help your teen build work folders for every class

A work folder will hold all assignments due and all assignments completed. To alleviate the mismanagement of too many folders, it may make more sense to keep all the folders inside one three-ring binder, which is more difficult to misplace.

Set up a quiet place for your teen to study, read and write

There's usually a lot more homework during these years.

Create a central calendar

It may sound like a suggestion you've used during your teen's early school years, but there are just as many activities during this time that do need to be organised.