The Quick Read
- Teen ADHD often shows up as procrastination, forgetfulness, emotional outbursts, and trouble getting things done.
- Symptoms may become more noticeable as school demands and independence increase.
- ADHD testing helps distinguish ADHD from anxiety, depression, and typical teenage behavior.
- The right diagnosis can help teens get support before adulthood.
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Middle school and high school are prime time for an ADHD diagnosis to become more noticeable. As demands increase around organization, self-directed tasks, and follow-through, more problems form for ADHD teens.
But wait, don’t many teens struggle with focus and motivation, so what makes ADHD different?
The answer to this question is why many parents search for things like teen ADHD testing in Columbus, Ohio. Psychological testing helps distinguish developmentally typical behavior from a diagnosable condition.
If you think a teen may have ADHD but are unsure where to begin, this blog explains the process from start to finish.
What Does ADHD Look Like in Teenagers?
ADHD is a condition of executive dysfunction. This is the part of the brain that is responsible for focus, working memory, getting started on tasks, finishing tasks, impulse control, and emotional regulation. While many teens are still learning these skills, teens with ADHD have a lifelong pattern of issues with them and consequences. For example, struggling to manage homework can lead to lower grades.
Here are some classic signs of ADHD in teens:
- Losing track of time (hours of video games leaving little time for homework)
- Explosive outbursts
- Intense sensitivity to rejection
- Chronic procrastination
- Zoning out in conversation
- Irregular bedtimes (one night 9 pm, the next night 1 am)
- Conflict at home about getting things done
- Strong intelligence but failing grades (something isn’t adding up)
- Forgetting things: homework assignments, misplacing items around the house, never closing cabinets or turning off lights, not listening to you, etc.
Why ADHD Is Missed in Teens
ADHD isn’t always obvious. There are many reasons teens with ADHD can “mask” or cope with ADHD in such a way that even those closest to them can miss their diagnosis.
High Intelligence and Perfectionism
ADHD has nothing to do with intelligence. Many very smart students can not study for a test and get an A. Critical thinking is unrelated to one’s ability to take action on goals, get things done, or stay on task.
ADHD and perfectionism are so common, some think perfectionism should be a part of the diagnosis. Consider this: let’s say ADHD makes your teen make mistakes. However, they’ve learned to triple-check their work late into the evening; they catch every. Single. One. Could that person still have ADHD? Absolutely.
Inattentive ADHD
ADHD has been in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for decades. Despite its longevity, we all still can’t shake the image of Dennis the Menace as the model for ADHD. As our understanding develops, we now know ADHD is more nuanced.
Some teens with ADHD aren’t hyperactive or impulsive. They may be spacey, forgetful, and struggle with motivation, but can mask these traits from others.
Support Systems
Many teens with ADHD have very supportive parents and teachers. They call this “scaffolding,” meaning the ADHD teen is being held up by the foundation of their support system.
When structures change, we see ADHD spill out into plain sight. A good example would be the transitional independence that comes with high school and college. As their homework checklists fade away, so does the teens’ focus and productivity.
High-Achieving Teens Internalize their Struggles
Achievement is a funny thing. While a teen can get validation from success, they also struggle with vulnerability. Success can bring the belief that asking for help is a sign of weakness. As struggles escalate, many high-achieving teens with ADHD stuff their intense feelings of guilt and shame downward.
In reality, asking for help improves success. But good luck convincing a high achiever of this fact. Many high-achieving teens with undiagnosed ADHD end up crashing out. As they develop anxiety or depression, this further delays the diagnosis of ADHD, as those diagnoses become more obvious and critical.
A common red flag for ADHD in teens is treatment for anxiety and depression without sufficient progress.
ADHD, Anxiety, Depression—or Normal Teenage Behavior?
If you’re wondering how to tell the difference between ADHD, anxiety, depression, and run-of-the-mill teenage behavior, ask yourself these questions:
- Do they struggle with executive functioning in more than one setting? (home, friend group, sports, school,etc)?
- How much do things like procrastination, forgetfulness, and disorganization affect their lives?
- When did their executive functioning struggles start?
- Do you suspect anyone else in the family could have ADHD? ADHD is highly genetic.
- Does your teen themselves relate to ADHD if they read the symptoms off of an ADHD quiz?
Signs It May Be Time to Consider Teen ADHD Testing
If you’re looking for something tangible to explore in your teen’s life, here are some signs it’s time to get testing:
Students complete homework or other projects in a last-minute crisis.
- They fall apart without organizational symptoms you help them create
- You don’t feel your teen’s performance is matching their ability
- Their emotions escalate quickly, and they struggle to regulate them.
- Their sensitivity to rejection, emotional regulation, or tendency to get bored easily with friends affects their relationships.
- Their bedroom is very messy.
- They need constant reminders to complete tasks at home and school.
What Does Teen ADHD Testing Look Like?
ADHD testing is not a quick trip to the doctor. At Focused Mind ADHD Counseling, we offer comprehensive ADHD testing that ensures we won’t diagnose ADHD too quickly. We will also take time to build trust with your teen so they feel comfortable sharing with us.
Here is the process from start to finish:
- We conduct a clinical interview with the parents and the teenager. We will discuss every milestone, their academic performance, and behavior at home and with friends.
- A teen, parent, and teacher receive ADHD rating scales to explore the severity of executive functioning issues across domains.
- Clinicians provide additional rating scales for depression, anxiety, and other common mental health concerns to identify potential co-occurring issues.
- Neurological testing objectively assesses focus and impulse control.
- After testing, we will provide an accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment recommendations.
- We will provide a full diagnostic report with recommendations no later than a week after testing.
How Should Parents Talk to a Teen About Testing?
Above all, present ADHD testing to understand one’s brain, not as an indicator that something is wrong. ADHD testing is not a punishment for academic performance or behavioral issues. Include your teen in the decision, and trust our staff to make the process smooth once they are in our offices.
The Next Steps If Your Teen Is Diagnosed With ADHD?
Many families with ADHD have mixed feelings once diagnosed: relieved but also overwhelmed. A multi-model approach involving therapy, school support, or medication can be helpful. Here is an example of how the treatment process looks:
“Taylor” was a straight-A student. After her brother’s ADHD diagnosis, her parents wondered if she had been masking ADHD all along. Taylor cried when they diagnosed her.
“I just feel so understood; this makes sense,” she explained.
Taylor’s parents had different reactions. Taylor’s mom felt hopeful but guilty that they hadn’t acted sooner. Initially, Dad was skeptical, but he switched to problem-solving mode after the diagnosis confirmation. Everyone needs a little time to process the diagnosis, which is why emotional support is a big part of the initial phase of treatment.
After her diagnosis, Taylor and her family made a treatment plan. Taylor’s goals were both practical and self-esteem related.
Her family learned better ways of responding to her emotionally. Taylor built systems and strategies that worked for her. As time went on, her confidence also increased, and she advocated for herself more with friends and teachers.
By the end of ADHD therapy, Taylor had the skills and support she needed to thrive in college.
ADHD Testing Can Change a Teen’s Trajectory
At Focused Mind ADHD Counseling, we often speak with adults diagnosed later in life who wish they had understood their ADHD sooner. Of all the diagnoses, ADHD has the clearest path to treatment. Once you know how your brain works, you can alter your own destiny. Adolescence is one of the best times to uncover ADHD. With college, trade school, or your teen’s working years on the horizon, learning skills for independence, studying, and relationships can have a big impact on the next 10, 20, 30 years of their lives.
Begin ADHD Testing for Teens in Columbus, Ohio
Wondering if your teenager has ADHD? You don’t have to watch them live their life feeling out of control without knowing why. Comprehensive teen ADHD testing can help them find answers. Our Columbus, OH, counseling practice has caring therapists who specialize in a variety of ADHD services.
To start your counseling journey, follow these simple steps:
- Fill out the contact form to schedule a free 15-minute phone call
- Meet with one of our caring therapists.
- Stop watching them struggle. Start watching them shine.
Other ADHD Services Offered at Focused Mind ADHD Counseling
Adult ADHD testing and teen ADHD testing are not the only services we offer at our Columbus, OH, counseling practice. At Focused Mind ADHD Counseling, we offer a variety of mental health services, including ADHD treatment. As an adult with ADHD, you may also benefit from anxiety treatment for ADHD, counseling for men with ADHD, counseling for women with ADHD, ADHD-focused couples therapy, and depression counseling for ADHD. You can also view our blog for more resources and helpful info.
About the Author
Billy Roberts, LISW-S, LCSW, is the founder of Focused Mind ADHD Counseling and a licensed psychotherapist specializing in ADHD. Based in Columbus, Ohio, he provides ADHD testing and therapy to help adults better understand challenges related to time management, focus, emotional regulation, and relationships. He previously held a position at the NYU Child Study Center and has practiced as a psychotherapist for over a decade. His holistic approach to ADHD assessment and treatment has been featured in Time Magazine, CNN, HuffPost, and Forbes, where he shares insights on helping individuals with ADHD manage their relationships, emotions, careers, time, and more. He is also the author of the forthcoming book Wired to Please: Unmasking the ADHD People-Pleaser.
