Resources Emerge for Parents of Neurodivergent Teens
New resources are targeting the specific challenges of parenting teenagers with ADHD. An upcoming webinar focuses on strategies for families where both parents and children have ADHD, while a recent podcast discussed methods for handling teenage meltdowns that challenge reflexive parenting instincts.
- Behavioral parent training (BPT) is an evidence-based treatment recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for children with ADHD. Studies have shown that BPT can improve child behavior in 60-80% of cases involving ADHD. - Parents of neurodivergent children often experience higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Support for the parent is a key component of a child's success, as traditional parenting strategies are often not effective for neurodivergent children. - Telehealth platforms are increasingly offering structured parent training programs and therapy for ADHD, which research suggests can be as effective as in-person services. These platforms can provide real-time coaching in the family's natural home environment. - For parents who also have ADHD, a newer BPT program called Improving Parenting Skills Adult ADHD (IPSA) has been developed. It adapts content and delivery to be more accessible and relevant for parents with ADHD. - Twice-exceptional (2e) students are those who are identified as gifted and also have a learning difference like ADHD or autism. Resources for these families focus on strength-based approaches and providing a structured environment with consistent routines. - Neurodiversity-affirming resources aim to foster understanding and acceptance of neurodivergent identities. These can include books, podcasts, and workshops that focus on self-advocacy and leveraging individual strengths. - Parents of neurodivergent teens often face social isolation and judgment, as family and friends may not understand the complexities of their reality. This can lead to feelings of being misunderstood and unsupported. - A collaborative approach to parenting teens with ADHD, such as the "5 C's" framework (Consistency, Self-Control, Compassion, Collaboration, and Celebration), is based on neuroscience research and focuses on creating predictable environments and working with the teen on solutions.
