A diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) often occurs in childhood.  In fact, one of the diagnostic criteria for AD/HD is that symptoms need to have been present prior to age 12.  This does not mean, however, that an initial diagnosis of AD/HD cannot occur in adolescence or young adulthood.  In our practice, we often evaluate teens and young adults who seem to be experiencing problems with focus, concentration, follow-through, and/or decision-making for the first time in their lives.  Teenagers like this who come in for an evaluation often feel confused about what could be going on because they did not experience any noticeable difficulties until they reached high school or college.  What we have found in our many years of testing experience, however, is that many students, often with the inattentive and/or milder forms of AD/HD, are able to perform well in elementary and middle school.  In high school or college, however, the demands on some students’ attentional and/or executive functioning capabilities may start to exceed their capacity, particularly because the external structure, scaffolding, and support offered by parents and teachers starts to wane in the later school years.  

If you are wondering about the possibility of AD/HD in your teen or young adult child, it can be useful to know what to look for.  Common symptoms of AD/HD in teens and young adults include:

• Has difficulty staying focused during lectures or conversations
• Struggles to follow through on instructions, schoolwork, or chores
• Has difficulty with time management and organization
• Is forgetful in daily activities
• Makes careless mistakes and lacks attention to detail
• Makes risky decisions
• Has difficulty regulating emotions
• Avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to participate in tasks requiring sustained mental effort

If your teen or young adult child seems to be experiencing any of the difficulties listed above despite not seeming to struggle in these areas earlier in life, an evaluation with one of our clinical psychologists may be beneficial.  An evaluation can determine the appropriateness of an AD/HD diagnosis and can rule in/rule out any other potential explanations for such struggles, such as anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, etc.  Check out our website at familyfirstva.com or call us today at 703-938-9090, ext. 1 to learn more about our testing services for students of all ages.

Kelly Theis, Ph.D.

Licensed Clinical Psychologist