How does ADHD in teens affect social skills?

Ever since ADHD emerged as a medical diagnosis in the late 1970s, thousands of children and teens have been diagnosed. As the years passed more research has emerged on how to help treat those affected and has given parents guides to help children navigate life. With some coaching and mild interventions, your child should be able to have a healthy and successful life.

Symptoms of ADHD in teens

Can include:

• Inattention
• Hyperactivity
• Impulsivity 
• These symptoms can be combined as well 
• Because of these symptoms, children can also struggle with social skills and have difficulty making friends

My child is struggling socially. How can I help? 

As parents, it can be difficult to see your child struggle to make friends. Encouraging positive social behavior and helping to educate others on your child’s condition can help your child feel more comfortable. Some helpful actions can include: 

• Give immediate and frequent feedback on inappropriate behavior and missed social cues
• Focus on areas where your child is struggling with and role play social situations
• Encourage your child to interact with a smaller group of peers to limit social anxiety
• Reward improved social skills 

Benefits of therapy programs teaching social skills:

At residential programs like Solstice West, your child will learn how to interact with peers on a deeper level. Intensive therapy groups such as processing groups will give your child’s peers a chance to talk to your child about how their behavior is affecting the group as a whole. The milieu based therapeutic approach allows your child to learn social cues through experience with support staff guiding her. This way they can experience social interactions and have support if they begins to feel overwhelmed or confused. If you as parents have specific concerns you can talk you your therapist and treatment team to come up with a specialized plan to work on certain issues.