Brain Development

Teenagers have to cope on a daily basis with stress, peer pressure, difficult teachers and over-protective parents. It doesn't stop there. They also have to cope with physical and mental changes. These mental changes can affect their learning ability.

While good academic results were achieved quite easily in primary school, it is a different story in high school. Teenagers find greater difficulty in showing an interest in their subjects. They are unable to concentrate and their academic results prove to be less satisfactory. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) tests prove that the brain changes during puberty and these changes can leave many teens with a temporary impaired learning ability.

In the case of gifted learners, an academic deficit may not be experienced at all. However, those who suffer with poor school results need support. Teachers and parents who perceive these teenagers as lazy, selfish and inconsiderate, may need to re-evaluate the situation.

Many scientists and doctors have proven through MRI tests that the brain changes during puberty. It would be foolish to think the changes stop somewhere between 18 and 20 years of age. Tests have shown that changes can continue even at the age of 25.

The changes in the developing brain detects physiological changes, which would explain why teenagers have emotional outbursts, reckless attitudes, an ardent pursuit of sex, drugs and nocturnal places to party until daylight.

These structural changes may also contribute to the start of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Instead of blaming everything on "raging hormones", parents and teachers may want to consider that teenagers lack the cognitive controls that are needed for mature behaviour.

Being a parent of a teenager can be difficult. With so many pressures that teenagers have to face, depression increases. The best thing parents and teachers can do is to show a genuine interest in teenagers. Get to know them and support them. The worst thing to do is to neglect them.

"Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike." - J.K. Rowling.