Inattentive

• If your teen has trouble staying focused and is disorganized with daily chores and schoolwork, he may just not be getting enough sleep. However, you may want to consider whether your teen has a disorder if he is forgetful or easily distracted, if he appears not to listen when people talk to him, if he often loses track of where he last placed his homework, cell phone, keys and other belongings or if he has trouble paying attention to details and makes careless errors, perhaps especially with tasks that do not interest him.
  
  

Impulsive

• Some teens and young adults are still learning important social skills, but a teen with ADD/ADHD may be so impulsive that even her friendships with other teens are compromised. School teachers may also notice that she is disruptive in classes. Not all teens with ADD/ADHD are loud--in fact, yours may be a quiet daydreamer--but impulsivity can be seen in having trouble waiting for her turn in school and in games, blurting out answers instead of waiting for the appropriate time, interrupting others, having angry outbursts or tantrums and intruding on others' games and conversations.
  
  

Hyperactive

• Children with ADD/ADHD commonly have trouble sitting still. A teen with ADD/ADHD may or may not be able to curb his desire to get up out of his seat during school, but he may experience constant fidgeting and squirming, tapping his foot or drumming with his fingers on his desk. He may also be constantly moving. He may run and climb just for the sake of running and climbing. He also may talk excessively and have trouble staying quiet and engaged during quiet activities. Another symptom is having trouble finishing projects and seeming to be running constantly on a motor.
  
  

Some or All

• Your teen may have ADD/ADHD even if she does not seem to show all the signs mentioned in this article. Some teens with ADD/ADHD are inattentive, but not necessarily hyperactive or impulsive. Others are hyperactive and impulsive, but they may be able to pay attention. On the other hand, many do display signs from all three categories.
  
  

Take Notes

• If you think your teen may have ADD/ADHD, talk to adults around her and agree to make notes of times when she seems to be acting out of line. Bring your concerns to a medical professional. If you are able to bring with you a detailed history of your teen's behavior, complete with parent and teacher observations, you can help diagnose a potential disorder.