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Thread : Symptoms only appearing at teen age  
19 Jul 2010 @ 9:23 AM
gardenia Join Date: Mon 19th Jul 2010
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Symptoms only appearing at teen age

My daughter is 16 this year. She has never exhibited signs of ADHD when she was younger. There were mild signs of hyperactivity when she was 11 and 12, kind of disappeared at 13 when she entered high school. At 14, she was tested to be gifted, with 147 on WISC-IV, that's when her ADHD symptoms became quite obvious, hyperactivity and inattentiveness. However, the symptoms do not exist everywhere, mostly in school only. She has said she's bored in school, and from her friends, I learned that she has to be either working on something interesting, talking or else walking and jumping around, as long as she is doing something. And she doesn't seem to be paying attention in class. Her teacher made a remark that she should be more focused in class. I can't tell if she really can't focus or just find everything else too boring, considering her intelligence level. At home though, it's a different story. But then again, she's on the computer nearly the whole of the day she's at home, and I've read that kids with ADHD can sustain their attention playing computer games. So I don't know what really is the deal with her. Is it possible for ADHD symptoms to only appear at teenage? Or even adult age? The diagnosis requires the symptoms to be present since age 7 right? I have no idea how I can help my DD.

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29 Jul 2010 @ 4:38 PM Reply # 1
eabeam Join Date: Tue 12th Jan 2010
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Severity of Symptoms are relative

Although the symptoms appeared before 7 years of age is necessary, the reality of how symptoms "appear" is relative.

(Before anyone gets to technical, "signs" mean what others can observe, see, measure and "symptoms" mean the individual perception. Blood Pressure is a sign. Nausea is a symptom. I will use them interchangeably.)

This is especially true for the inattentive type. For example, you have to compare the severity of the ADHD with the other coping skills, supports, and assets to help with the demands on the child at the time. A smart-kid, with mild-ADHD in a highly-structured environment will low stress will not be very obvious... until of course demands and independence rise. An average kid with moderate-to-sever ADHD in a chaotic environment will be very obvious.

With that said, ADHD is a diagnosis of exclusion. These means that you really need to look at other possible explanations and Dx until ADHD is the only reasonable explanation that remains.

http://askdreric-schoolpsychologist.blogspot.com/

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