Helping My Teenager With ADHD

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that can cause high levels of hyperactivity and impulsive behaviours. ADHD can have a significant impact on academic performance but it does not reflect academic ability and in fact, students living with ADHD just need support systems in place that enable them to study in an environment that works for them.

Learning and memory can be affected by ADHD so it may mean your teenager struggles to retain information from class and find it hard to recall facts when needed.

The biggest challenge can be managing the inevitable distractions and staying organised, so there are some things you can do as a parent or guardian to help create a structured learning environment where they can thrive.

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Giving Them Study Space

Aim for a quiet, comfortable and clutter-free environment.  You may not realise it but the ADHD brain more readily associates locations with certain activities, so try to avoid the likes of the sofa (may equate to screen-time) or the bed (relaxing and sleeping then become difficult).

Repetitive movements can help a teenager settle into a focussed mindset;  a small handheld gadget to fidget with, or even an elastic band, may be all that’s needed but you might want to consider a standing desk, sitting on a wobble ball or perhaps a rocking chair.  The key is avoiding restrictive settings and to not allow the urge to move to become the distraction.

A consistent background sound such as concentration music can be helpful - it also helps create associations of sounds with the need to focus.

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Setting Study Schedules

I’m sure you’re very aware of how disorganised a teenager living with ADHD can be!  You may be better taking the lead in setting up, and sometimes gently enforcing, a workable schedule for your teenager in this case.

An ADHD brain responds better when study tasks are broken down in smaller chunks.  Try helping your teenager with this as the sheer volume of tasks across several subjects may initially be overwhelming for them and it can be a challenge even getting started.  

A useful tip is to write each task separately on a sticky note and have it in a prominent place in their study space – it helps direct a wandering mind back on track.  Also, have the least liked task to be completed first, with the ‘reward’ of the easier one coming later.  

Students with ADHD tend to be brilliant multi-taskers so they may learn better by switching between three small tasks in the same study timeframe and not pressurising themselves into getting one thing complete.

When to study?  For the early birds this is not an issue, but knowing sleep loss exacerbates ADHD symptoms, for the night owls you may have to remind your teenager to build in time to wind down and ensure they have enough hours left to get a decent amount of sleep.  

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Actually Studying

As students progress through the exam system, it becomes more important for them to master mathematical reasoning and problem solving skills.  The challenge of maintaining focus and following multi-step procedures makes it much more difficult for someone with ADHD to apply strategies for critical thinking.  This is where encouraging your teenager to find ways to break down tasks into smaller chunks can pay off.

Can you make time to regularly get your young person to readout aloud to you or explain a new concept to you?  This helps them develop strategic thinking as well as engaging both the visual and auditory senses.

A student with ADHD benefits most from a multi-sensory approach to learning.  Things such as using technology, visual aids, hands-on activities and breaking down into manageable steps all help.  Incidentally, this is exactly the approach our App uses – everyone benefits!

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ADHD Resources

If you are looking for further tips and assistance on helping your young person manage studying and ADHD you may find further useful information on one of the following sites:

ADHD Foundation

NHS - Living with ADHD

The Brain Charity - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder