Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without hyperactivity, is characterized as having an inattentive and impulsive nature. Those who suffer from ADD or ADHD are extremely active, fidgety, talkative, and restless. They have difficulty paying attention, forget things easily, and interrupt others. Academic life is often difficult for those with ADD, but teens should know that college is not impossible.
Preparing For College with the ADD Young Adult
Parents and teens should start thinking about attending college in the last half of high school, since those years are most important academically in the college selection process. It is during this time that parents can help focus their teen’s interests and help him form positive habits.
The hardest thing for the ADD young adult in college will be learning to micromanage and multitask on his own. These are habits that cannot be learned at the last minute. Parents must instill these skills in their teenager beforehand.
- If parents haven’t done so already, they should have their teen checked for a learning disability through the high school support system. He may qualify for extra time during tests, and even special modifications during the SATs.
- Parents need to create a dialogue with their teen. Find out what his interests are, whether he are open to attending college full-time or part-time, and whether he wants to strike out on his own or stay with mom and dad a little longer.
- Parents need to warn their teen of the hard work and expense of college without sounding unsupportive or hesitant. Reassure him that if he has made it this far, he can go all the way.
- While still in high school, teens need to learn positive study habits that they can carry into their adult lives. Encourage them to keep a daily record of assignments and tests. Teach them to study by reading, taking notes, and tape recording the lesson for multi-sensory understanding.
- Encourage independence by faithfully letting them complete their own assignments in the last two years of high school. They must learn how to guide themselves and create their own structured routine.
- Teach them to wake themselves up in the morning and get themselves ready without a nudge from mom or dad.
- Teach them positive spending habits by showing them how to write checks and balance their budget. Explain the negative consequences of using credit cards.
- Teach them to budget their money. Show them how to make a list of what needs to be paid, and to pay it before using the money for anything else.
- Teach them to learn their own limits and not to take on more than they can handle. If they only want to start with a partial load of classes, let them.
- Teach them to take care of their body by exercising regularly and refusing to participate in drugs and alcohol activities. Bad habits will only make the college adjustment harder.
- Make sure your child knows how to do laundry, the dishes, and how to generally pick up after himself.
Adjusting to College Life for the ADD Young Adult
According to ADDitude Magazine, college life differs from high school in a few critical areas: Dormitories are generally noisier than home, the classes are much longer, class times vary throughout the day rather than remain consistent, there is little supervision to check up on student’s progress, and long term papers and tests determine grades more than everyday homework. It can be quite an adjustment, especially for a student with Attention Deficit Disorder. There are, however, ways to ease the transition:
- Look into colleges that offer learning specialists and be prepared to offer documentation of ADD to prove the disability. Some special accommodations may be available, and professors may be more inclined to offer extra time for assignments or exams.
- Spend the summer before college taking one or two classes on campus. This way, adjustments can be made prior to the campus becoming more chaotic.
- Take difficult classes or more "boring" classes one per semester
- Look into free tutoring programs
- Become familiar with the library, the writing center, the computer lab and other places where people are ready and willing to help brainstorm
- Develop a steady routine of exercise, sleep, and study times
- Establish a quiet, consistent, safe place to study
- Using earplugs when studying to block out external noises
- Keeping a diary to jot down internal thoughts so that they do not interrupt studying
- Set an alarm clock with a specified time to start and finish an assignment
- Take frequent breaks between studying to release energy
- Divide longer projects into smaller pieces and do a little each day
- Always sit in the front of the class to better pay attention
- Encourage teens not to be hard on themselves if their grades are not perfect. The point is that they are there, and that they are trying.
Extending one’s education does not have to be impossible for students with Attention Deficit Disorder. There are many success stories involving students with ADD. Often, these are gifted, bright, and talented people who just need help harnessing their energies and focusing their interests.
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