For Teens & Children

Personal Stories of Teens Living with ADHD

More than one in ten teenagers have a diagnosis of ADHD. Teens with ADHD may face challenges, but they can succeed with the right supports. Here are stories of teens who share their experiences of living with ADHD and the strategies and tips they used to help them thrive.

Articles

Pay ADDention™! I’m a Teen Expert on ADDMakayla CaliendoA high school senior shares her story of challenges and setbacks as well as success and hope. (Attention, October 2021)
Providing Perspective Through My ADHD StoryMallory BandShe shares her story with her students because she was them. (Attention, June 2021)
How to Embrace Your ADHD: A Teen's PerspectiveGrace FriedmanHer ADHD may be quite severe, but she has learned to thrive with it. (Attention, October 2014)
ADHD Teen TroubleZoe Kessler"Like so many girls with undiagnosed ADHD, by the time I hit puberty my self-esteem had plummeted," writes this noted author on her adolescent years. (Attention, April 2014)
A Student's Journey with ADHDKeath LowAlthough she struggled in school from an early age, by the time she entered high school she had become a confident and motivated student. How did she do it? (Attention, August 2011)

Additional Resources

ADHD and Me: Tips from Teens Who KnowHealthgrades

The information provided by CHADD’s National Resource Center on ADHD is supported by Cooperative Agreement Number NU38DD000002 funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC or the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).