Question:

My son who was diagnosed with ADHD just finished his freshman year and failed at least two classes.  It seems that he cannot make the decision to study.  Is this a characteristic of the disorder?  He had a math tutor, but during the sessions, did not ask for specific help.  He scored over 1100 on SAT with formal preparation and does fairly well on tests/quizzes (without much studying of course).  Is there anything we can do or say to point him in the right direction (whether or not he should continue)?

FOLLOW-UP

Hi Shari,

My son appears to be doing better, although I still worry about how he manages his class load.  He has a knack for psyching himself into thinking that he’s doing well in all his courses; whereas the reality could be that he may do really well in one class and the others drop off the edge of the cliff.  We’re waiting to see how he does this semester.  I’ll keep you posted.

Concerned Mom

Answer:

Dear Concerned Mom;

I am so happy to hear that your son is doing better this year. Freshman year is tough for all college students, but especially challenging for students with AD/HD. You should be proud that your son made it to college. Consider the fact that only 45-50% of students with AD/HD do attend college. College students with AD/HD typically encounter problems with completing schoolwork. A common pitfall for these students is thinking that when they graduate high school they are magically cured of their AD/HD. However, between one half and two thirds of these kids will continue to struggle with significant symptoms as adults.

Because of their problems with procrastination, time management, and organization college students with AD/HD often have difficulty completing assignments. They also suffer from reading problems as the reading load increases in college and they continue to have difficulty concentrating. An increased demand for writing and notetaking is another common challenge. Frustration and anxiety about whether increased demands can be met and problems with personal relationships is a common source of mood instability for college students with AD/HD. Because they have a tendency to think they are already “cured”, and because responsibility for obtaining medication rests solely with themselves, many students stop taking their medication, or take it irregularly. Students with AD/HD often suffer from increased problems with sleep, lack of sleep and difficulty getting up in the morning.

Students who accept their disability and are willing to seek help or accommodations are most likely to succeed in college. Has your son registered with his school’s Student Disability Support Office? If so, and if he has documented his disability appropriately, he would be eligible for accommodations that might ease his pain under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Common accommodations found useful by college students include:

• Extended time on tests (documentation must specify exactly how much time is required) with short breaks between multi-section or multi-hour examinations.
• Testing to take place in a distraction-free environment
• Access to a coach or advisor to provide time management and work organization support and structure
• Use of a computer with spell and grammar check not only for all written work but for essay examinations
• Private dormitory room to minimize distractions
• Use of assistive technology such as the Kurzweil reader to help maintain focus on reading material and to assist with notetaking
• Option to photograph notes on the board or tape record lectures
• Use of a notetaker to provide or supplement class notes

In elementary and secondary school, the burden for qualifying a student for accommodations falls on the school. In contrast, in college, the responsibility lies with the student. If your student is having difficulty negotiating the maze of college services, you might want to employ the services of a private coach. Although this option can be costly, a coach can fill the gap between depending on mom and dad and full independence. Some college disability centers support groups for students with AD/HD where your son could receive all important peer validation.

Below are some resources you and your son might want to consider:

Books

Bramer, J.S. (1996). Succeeding in College with Attention Deficit Disroders: Issues and Strategies for Students, Counselors and Educators. Plantation, FL: Specialty Press.

Mooney, J. and Cole, D. (2000) Learning Outside the Lines: Two Ivy League Studetns with Learning Disabilities and AD/HD Give You the Tools for Academic Success and Educational Revolution. New York: Simon and Schuster.

Nadeau, K. (1994). College Survival Guide for Studetns with ADD or LD. New York: Brunner/Mazel.

Quinn, Patricia. (2001). ADD and the College Student – Revised. Washington DC: Magination Press.

Organizations

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (CHADD). Also the National Resource Center on AD/HD, a program of CHADD. Both are accessible at www.chadd.org

Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA). This is the national support group for adults with AD/HD. Information is available at www.add.org