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ADDvisor |
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For People with ADHD & Those Who Love Them |
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| Subscribe Me to the ADDvisor Newsletter | Bill Benninger | Alan Graham | ||
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Cogmed Working Memory Training Outline: Everything You Want To Know About ADHD
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Return to ADDvisor Volume 2 2000 Index Number 13 July 1, 2000 In this issue: 1. It’s Never Too Late For Education (Behavior to Worry About in Your Teen) 2. Resources - The Explosive Child by Ross Greene ======================================= IT'S NEVER TOO LATE FOR EDUCATION ======================================= _ William B. Benninger Ph.D. Living and working with teenage children is often difficult. Teenagers are living in a precarious world today. In addition to going through the changes which bring them into young adulthood, they are faced with challenges very different from those of their parents. Alcohol and drug abuse, depression, anxiety and interpersonal/parental conflicts brought on by familial, peer or school pressures are the more common issues facing young people today regardless of economic status or cultural environment. This month’s and next month’s newsletters are designed to help you through the tumultuous period of adolescent parenting by enabling you to better distinguish normal behavior from that which should cause concern. Parents of ADHD teenagers should be aware that it is common for ADHD teens to exhibit other difficulties. By comparing your adolescent's feelings and behavior with those outlined in each section, you can gain a better perspective of potential problems. The greater the number of observable symptoms exhibited, the greater the likelihood that teens/parents need professional intervention. BEHAVIOR DISORDERS _repetitive physical violence against peers or adults. Behaviors include frequent fights during or after school with other students and/or aggressive confrontations with teachers. _repetitive physical violence against property such as vandalism at school. _a pre_occupation or fascination with, or possession of, violent weapons including knives or guns. _theft of any kind. _chronic violations of important rules such as truancy, substance abuse or inappropriate classroom behavior. _frequent lying about almost any issue. _blaming others and rarely taking responsibility for actions, even when caught in obvious wrongdoing. This type of individual often complains about how unfair everything is. _low self_esteem is usually compensated for with a projected image of "toughness." _association with peers who value acting out behaviors. ALCOHOL/DRUG ABUSE _abrupt drop in grades_usually a 1 to 2_letter grade drop over 2 grading periods. _decreased school attendance, increased school tardiness, late for class. _personality changes_increased withdrawal, moodiness, apathy, rapid loud talking or bursts of laughter. _increase in behaviors requiring disciplinary action. _a significant change in friends or association with drug or alcohol users. _pre_occupation with drug/alcohol culture, writing drug/alcohol graffiti on notebooks, wearing drug/alcohol jewelry and clothing. _dishonesty characterized by a pattern of unnecessary lies and deceits _excessive argumentativeness regarding disagreements of little interest or significance. _reduction of involvement in extracurricular school activities. _stealing money at home or at school. DEPRESSION _frequent or continuously sad moods, sometimes verbalized in adolescents as "I'm bored"; expressions of hopelessness/helplessness. _impaired concentration as evidenced by an increase in classroom day dreaming and general decrease in attentive behavior. _loss of interest in school or extracurricular activities. _general difficulty with self_motivation. This may result in reduced school attendance, general apathy and specific problems like failure to complete assignments. _frequent expressions of personal failure "I'm so stupid," "I can do anything right." _verbalizing of suicidal thoughts: "I'd be better off dead," "I wish I could go to sleep and never wake up," "I should just 'off myself'." _crying spells of unusual frequency. _decreased energy or appetite. _sleeping all the time or inability to sleep. Each of these problem areas, as well as the ones presented in the next months newsletter will be discussed in more detail at a later time. If a significant number of the symptoms are evident, seek professional help from a therapist specializing in adolescents. ======================================= RESOURCES ======================================= "The Explosive Child" by Ross Greene is an excellent book that gives practical advice as to how to manage your child’s "meltdowns." Click on the ADD Warehouse banner on this page to find this book. CONTACT INFORMATION _______________________ Alan R. Graham, Ph.D. Bill Benninger, Ph.D. ADDvisor.com Voice: 1-866-ADDvisor Fax: 847-824-2386 Email: Alan@ADDvisor.com Bill@ADDvisor.com Web: www.ADDvisor.com
c) Copyright 2000 Alan R. Graham and Bill Benninger. All rights reserved The above material may be retransmitted or distributed to whomever you wish as long as not a single word is changed, added or deleted, including the contact information. However, you may not copy it to a web site. Republication of "The ADDvisor" in paper media is encouraged and permitted by organizations and associations which serve parents of ADHD children at the national, state and/or local level as long as the issue is reprinted in its entirety without charge and includes the contact information. With advance permission, we are happy to edit an issue to fit your space requirements. Republication is also encouraged under other circumstances, however, the advance permission of Alan R. Graham and/or Bill Benninger must be obtained in the event that changes in the text are desired or republication is to be made by individuals or by organizations other than those mentioned above.
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