not focused teen

[Anonymous]

My 15-year-old dd can focus well when she’s interested in something (especially books or topics she enjoys), but when she’s not - particularly with schoolwork like math - she most of the time zones out, even when someone is talking directly to her. We have a tutor, but she often drifts off while the tutor is explaining things.

Looking back, in elementary school she was pretty imaginative and content playing by herself at school but still constantly needed some kind of entertainment (she has a pretty good social life now I would say, with many friends). When reading books (which back then she absolutely LOVED, but less nowadays), she sometimes wouldn’t notice teachers telling the class to switch activities.

She also procrastinates heavily, makes careless mistakes when bored or frustrated, and sometimes needs to reread things multiple times for them to “stick,” especially on tests - unless it’s a book or text she’s interested in. She does read really fast so that could be a factor.

She doesn’t have one consistent hobby; instead she goes through short phases of interest that don’t last long. She also gets frustrated easily, though I’m not sure how much of that is personality vs. something else.

Her grades vary from A’s to B’s and sometimes (though pretty rare) a C and she often makes careless mistakes in her work because she ends up rushing. She has trouble memorizing things in math like equations and ways to solve things and even after learning a new topic she will forget how to do it (except for the basic math.)

Is this normal 15 year old behavior/is she just unmotivated or lazy?

[Anonymous]

She sounds like my 13yo DD with ADHD diagnosed at 11.

It’s not laziness OP.
If you could see my kid on the basketball court and then in the classroom youd think they were 2 different children. ADHD kids can focus their brains if they’re interested in something, but if they’re not that’s when the brain wanders off in different directions.

[Anonymous]

Aside from the academically, sounds like my undiagnosed ADHD/Autistic DC.

[Anonymous]

An option might be to evaluate her learning style, check for an LD (ADHD or other).

GMU has a good option for this that is neutral - not pushing a diagnosis. Some non-university practices think parents want a diagnosis to get an IEP or 504 -- and so they nearly always will produce a diagnosis. Best to use a neutral evaluator.

[Anonymous]

This sounds like something genetic and either you or your spouse would exhibit similar behaviors.