The Effects of ADHD on Adolescents
When the author was just eleven years old, her fifth grade teacher noticed something about her that would impact her life forever. She was having trouble paying attention in class and sitting still. Her grades were starting to be affected because of it. After further evaluations, she was diagnosed with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). With this diagnosis, She was faced with many challenges. In fact, after recent censuses conducted by the CDC, approximately 6.4 million children have been diagnosed with ADHD (as of six years ago), with the majority of those children being male rather than female.(cdc.gov) ADHD affects people in many ways. A person with this condition faces physical, mental, …show more content…
Stimulants like Amphetamines and Methylphenidates are the most commonly prescribed medications to those may be diagnosed with ADHD. Stimulants are given to patients with ADHD because they cause a reverse effect on them. For example, if you gave someone one who didn’t have ADHD one of these stimulants, they would become hyperactive and full of energy, while giving someone who is affected by ADHD one, they would become calm and focused and have more self-control. There are side affects to using these stimulants on children, such as; a curve in appetite while the medication is active, inability to sleep at times, an increase of short temper, headaches, and irritation in stomach areas. They also may experience increased frustration and may develop OCD over time. Along with stimulants, antidepressants are often used to treat ADHD. They work in the same way that stimulants do along with the same effects, however, they have more advantages; they aren’t a controlled substance and they don’t have to be given in separate doses like some stimulants do. …show more content…
However, there are studies that have proven the risks that adolescents have in the future when they are not medicated. Adolescents that are not treated for this disorder usually have higher rates of trouble with the law- which usually involve drug addiction and use. When adolescents come to the age of sixteen-years-old, they are able to get their learner’s permit to drive a motorized vehicle. Medication is a huge deal when it comes to this. When you drive, you have to constantly be paying attention to what you are doing and where you are going. This is extremely difficult when a person with ADHD isn’t difficult. If someone diagnosed isn’t medicated when they get behind the wheel, they increase their chances of speeding tickets and car accidents. Believe it or not, even the family of someone with ADHD can be affected if they are not taking medication. A person with this condition requires a lot of extra help and close attention from their parents to keep them from doing impulsive activities. Because of the need for the extra attention, the parents may have to make some sacrifices. First, they may have to adjust their work schedules. Children diagnosed with this condition need extra attention so that they don’t make bad choices, which
When the author was just eleven years old, her fifth grade teacher noticed something about her that would impact her life forever. She was having trouble paying attention in class and sitting still. Her grades were starting to be affected because of it. After further evaluations, she was diagnosed with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). With this diagnosis, She was faced with many challenges. In fact, after recent censuses conducted by the CDC, approximately 6.4 million children have been diagnosed with ADHD (as of six years ago), with the majority of those children being male rather than female.(cdc.gov) ADHD affects people in many ways. A person with this condition faces physical, mental, …show more content…
Stimulants like Amphetamines and Methylphenidates are the most commonly prescribed medications to those may be diagnosed with ADHD. Stimulants are given to patients with ADHD because they cause a reverse effect on them. For example, if you gave someone one who didn’t have ADHD one of these stimulants, they would become hyperactive and full of energy, while giving someone who is affected by ADHD one, they would become calm and focused and have more self-control. There are side affects to using these stimulants on children, such as; a curve in appetite while the medication is active, inability to sleep at times, an increase of short temper, headaches, and irritation in stomach areas. They also may experience increased frustration and may develop OCD over time. Along with stimulants, antidepressants are often used to treat ADHD. They work in the same way that stimulants do along with the same effects, however, they have more advantages; they aren’t a controlled substance and they don’t have to be given in separate doses like some stimulants do. …show more content…
However, there are studies that have proven the risks that adolescents have in the future when they are not medicated. Adolescents that are not treated for this disorder usually have higher rates of trouble with the law- which usually involve drug addiction and use. When adolescents come to the age of sixteen-years-old, they are able to get their learner’s permit to drive a motorized vehicle. Medication is a huge deal when it comes to this. When you drive, you have to constantly be paying attention to what you are doing and where you are going. This is extremely difficult when a person with ADHD isn’t difficult. If someone diagnosed isn’t medicated when they get behind the wheel, they increase their chances of speeding tickets and car accidents. Believe it or not, even the family of someone with ADHD can be affected if they are not taking medication. A person with this condition requires a lot of extra help and close attention from their parents to keep them from doing impulsive activities. Because of the need for the extra attention, the parents may have to make some sacrifices. First, they may have to adjust their work schedules. Children diagnosed with this condition need extra attention so that they don’t make bad choices, which