Teenagers with ADD and ADHD: A Guide for Parents and Professionals

The newly updated and expanded guide to raising a teenager with an attention deficit disorder is more comprehensive than ever. Thousands more parents can rely on Dendy’s compassionately presented expertise based on the latest research and decades of her expe¬rience as a parent, teacher, school psychologist, and mental health counselor. Her book looks at key areas that make adolescence—an already challenging time of life—potentially more difficult for kids with ADD or ADHD: academics, dating, driving, socializing, and greater independence. TEENAGERS WITH ADD AND ADHD gives parents in¬sight on everything from understanding the diagnosis to treatment options, and from behavioral and academic issues, to parent involvement and self-advocacy. The new edition includes additional or updated information in several areas. A separate chapter on medications provides details on specific drugs, including many new ones, and what research shows about their ef¬fectiveness in improving attention, impulse control, and distractibility. Dendy discusses new findings about the role of executive function problems and how they relate to teenagers’ difficulties with organizational skills, long-range planning, and staying on task. She advises parents on their role in working with schools to find strategies for academic success. Teenagers also speak out about their condition, and Dendy points to ways to involve them in their own treatment plan. In addition, the book covers coexisting disorders such as learning disabilities, depression, anxiety, Tourette syndrome, and Asperger syndrome. Since 1995, this nuts and bolts guide has given par¬ents hope and empowerment. It’s chockfull of the latest data and proven strategies that can help manage the symptoms of ADD and ADHD at home and school. Praise for the previous edition: “Finally, we have a book that deals exclusively with issues of ADD in the teenage years. I highly recommend it.” —Harvey C. Parker, Ph.D., author of THE ADD HYPERACTIVITY WORKBOOK FOR PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND KIDS and THE ADD HYPERACTIVITY HANDBOOK FOR SCHOOLS

Chris Dendy, M.S., is a former educator, school psychologist, and mental health professional with more than 40 years of combined experience. She serves on the na¬tional CHADD President’s Council, the Professional Advisory Board for ADDA-SR, and the Florida Research and Training Center on Children’s Mental Health. Her other books include TEACHING TEENS WITH ADD AND ADHD (Woodbine House, 2000) and A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF LIFE WITH ADD AND ADHD (coauthored with her son, Alex). Dendy is a frequent speaker at national and interna¬tional conferences. The mother of three grown children who have ADHD, Dendy lives in Alabama