As a teenager, you have probably heard and maybe know a lot about attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (or ADD or ADHD for short). If you have been diagnosed with ADHD, you will also know how this makes you feel and how it affects you. If you are not diagnosed but you know you have some problems which you cannot understand, then you may have heard a lot about ADHD and be thinking if this could be the reason you are having these problems.

This information sheet will try to help you to understand a bit more about ADD/ADHD and how it can be managed. It will also try to give you some ideas of places where you can find more support, information and advice. Along with information on where to go to and how to get a proper assessment, it will also try to explain a little about the various ADHD treatment options you may be offered. These could include stimulant medication, possibly some forms of behavioral therapy, some extra help and support in school and also ways you can help yourself.

ADHD comes in 3 forms:

1. ADHD: predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type
2. ADHD: predominantly inattentive type (sometimes called ADD)
3. ADHD: combined type (displays symptoms of both of the previous types)

For those who do not have as much problem with the H or Hyperactivity side of things but who have problems with focus, concentration and paying attention then you might hear the old term "ADD" used.

Living with ADHD

Living with ADHD is like trying to watch TV while somebody is constantly changing the channel. A constant stream of changing images, sounds and thoughts. You can't focus on one thing, because something else or something new is always distracting you. Sometimes you find that you haven't even realised that someone has been talking to you as you are so wrapped up in this whirlwind of thoughts and pictures in your mind. Parents and teachers then keep telling you off because you forget to do things or answer them when they speak to you. Often, you will do things that irritate them, or you don't do some of the things you're supposed to do or what they have asked you to do. The trouble is that a lot of the time the other kids realise this and they think it is fun to wind you up. That is not fun to you though!

OK so "What is ADHD" then?….

ADHD IS A MEDICAL CONDITION - ADD/ADHD IS NOT A NEW OR FANCY LABEL FOR NAUGHTY KIDS OR BAD PARENTS. ALL CHILDREN MISBEHAVE SOMETIMES AND NO PARENT IS PERFECT.

BUT FOR THOSE OF US WITH ADD/ADHD THINGS NEED TO BE LOOKED AT SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY.  IT IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR US TO GET AWAY WITH EVERYTHING AND WE DO NEED TO LEARN TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OWN ACTIONS, BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THINGS HAPPEN WHICH WE CANNOT HELP. SO WE DO NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS AND SO DO THOSE AROUND US.

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) or ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is a well known and accepted medical condition. In the UK, some doctors use the term "Hyperkinetic Disorder", but it means the same thing.

As with a lot of other medical conditions, we don't know what the cause is. But we do know that:

ADD/ADHD normally tends to run in families.

The brains of people with ADD/ADHD are different from those of other people. Specific areas of the brain show differences in their structure and the way they work.

ADD/ADHD IS COMMON.

AS MANY AS 1 IN 20 CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE MAY HAVE ADD/ADHD. MANY OF THESE HAVE NOT SEEN A DOCTOR AND HAVE THEREFORE NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED.

Boys are more often affected than girls, often as much as 4:1 but this is not always the case.

The other thing is that not all those with Attention Deficit Disorder have the Hyperactive bit. Some just have the ADD part and this means that often they are not even assessed or given any help - they can have as many problems but will tend to sit at the back and be dreamy a lot of the time and never seem to be able to keep up with things - not because they are stupid but because they cannot focus and concentrate so therefore they often miss what is being said too and then they don't know what to do or when to hand in things like homework.

Each individual is different.