Adjusting to college life isn’t always easy for high school graduates, many of whom are accustomed to the parental and teacher oversight and structured schedules of their high school days. But for the young person with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), this transition can be even more daunting. “A teen with ADHD needs to be even more prepared than a typical kid for the academic, social and emotional challenges of college,” explains Richard Selznick, PhD. Dr. Selznick is the Director of the Cooper Learning Center and a psychologist specializing in diagnosing and treating kids with ADHD and learning disabilities.
“He or she needs to start off on the right foot, and that means understanding what challenges lie ahead and having a plan on how to overcome them,” adds Dr. Selznick. “Preparation and planning are the keys to success for all students, but they’re essential for a kid with ADHD.”
ADHD is a common developmental and behavioral disorder characterized by poor concentration, distractibility, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. People with ADHD are easily distracted by sights and sounds in their environment, cannot concentrate for long periods of time, are restless and impulsive, or have a tendency to daydream and be slow to complete tasks.
Symptoms of ADHD will appear over the course of many months, often with the symptoms of impulsiveness and hyperactivity preceding those of inattention, which may not emerge for a year or more. Different symptoms may appear in different settings, depending on the demands the situation may pose for the child’s self-control. A child who “can’t sit still” or is otherwise disruptive will be noticeable in school, but the inattentive daydreamer may be overlooked. The impulsive child who acts before thinking may be considered just a “discipline problem,” while the child who is passive or sluggish may be viewed as merely unmotivated. Yet both may have different types of ADHD. All children are sometimes restless, sometimes act without thinking, sometimes daydream the time away. When the child’s hyperactivity, distractibility, poor concentration, or impulsivity begin to affect performance in school, social relationships with other children, or behavior at home, ADHD may be suspected. But because the symptoms vary so much across settings, ADHD is not easy to diagnose. This is especially true when inattentiveness is the primary symptom.
For the college student with ADHD, academic issues may include poor organization and time management skills; reading problems resulting from difficulty concentrating and focusing; and poor note-taking or writing skills. Personal issues may include high frustration levels or poor self-esteem; inappropriate social skills or too much time socializing; confusion about goals and the future; lack of perseverance or procrastination; and lack of sleep and difficulty getting up in the morning.