Teens With ADHD

The ADHD statistics shows us that we must be proactive with these children.

ADHD in adolescents often shows itself as a difficulty using time wisely, managing long-term assignments, forgetting to complete homework or hand it in, and lack "goal-directed persistence."


Children with ADHD have difficulties in self-regulation. Info on ADHD shows they need coaching and mentoring that will key in on behaviors that facilitate achievement of goals. Often this type of ADHD behavior modification involves identifying long-term goals, determining criteria for implementation, identifying what might be a barrier to success, and then establishing short-term goals that will support achieving the long-term goal.

It is critical that teens with ADHD experience success with short-term goals, as often they have acute feelings of discouragement from years of failing to meet expectations of teachers, parents and themselves. They must be taught different cognitive behavior techniques such as self monitoring, self-reinforcement and self-instruction.

It is also helpful to provide role models of famous people with ADHD.

ADHD Behavior Intervention Plan
and Modifications

Teaching the ADHD chid to self-monitor means that they learn to observe and record their own behaviors. One problem behavior is selected and the child is asked to write down any occurrences of that behavior and when it occurred. Or, an appropriate behavior might be identified and then self-monitored. Daily meetings are required to review results and discuss progress.

When self-monitoring is done in conjunction with self-reinforcement, on-task behaviors should improve. This method works better on ADHD in adolescents rather than in young children with AD/HD, and when used in conduction with ADHD behavior charts.

Self-Reinforcement

Self-reinforcement is when students not only monitor their behavior but also evaluate how they performed on a given task. They award themselves according to how well they did. The reward is usually points or tokens that can be put towards a long-term reward or privilege.

Self-Instruction

Self-instruction is when teens with ADHD are taught to use self-directed verbalization to improve performance. It is also used to help control impulsivity. Self-directed instructions are given in the following areas:

^{Barkley, Russel A. "Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder." Childhood Disorders. 1989.}

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