Untreated ADHD in teens may be hard on everyone in your family.

Family members can help this situation by being aware of the potential impact of a teen's ADHD on the entire family.

Teenagers
To teenagers with untreated ADHD, it may seem as if they may never get things right. They live with frustration—perhaps they have problems with friends, get into trouble in school, and constantly fight with parents or guardians.² They may feel like a disappointment at school. Teenagers may also feel that their parents and guardians have unreasonable expectations of them.

Siblings
Brothers and sisters may also experience hardship in their own way. If the child with ADHD acts out, they may feel intimidated. Because the child with ADHD often receives more attention, other children may feel "left out." They may begin to feel that they are held to a different standard.

Parents and caregivers
Before teens with ADHD receive proper diagnosis and treatment, parents and caregivers may begin to feel that nothing will work. They may fear the worst for their child ("He'll get in serious trouble," or "She'll ruin her life."), or they may feel that their teen is being defiant, testing limits, or being spiteful, when in fact the teenager with ADHD may simply be forgetful or impulsive.

When the child doesn't do as they say or exhibits disruptive behavior, parents and guardians may react with tougher discipline, less discipline, suggestions, pleading and even anger. Behavior management techniques that worked with a child (such as reward charts, a token economy or time-outs) may no longer work with a teen. And without consistent and clear discipline, conflicts can flare up within the family.

In some cases, dealing with a teen's ADHD makes parents and guardians realize for the first time that they may have the condition. If you feel you may be exhibiting some of the same symptoms as your child, see our section for adults with ADHD for a simple screening tool that may provide valuable information for you and your doctor. Or learn more about the genetic link behind ADHD. If you are diagnosed with ADHD, talk with your doctor about whether ADDERALL XR may be right for you.