Many families endure years of struggles and setbacks before finally finding the right levels of support, guidance, and medications that allow children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to achieve academic success. But, as an April 14 article by New York Times columnist Tara Parker-Pope indicates, when those children head off to college, that track record of success will likely be put to the test:

For a teenager struggling to stay organized, the unusual class schedules, hourlong lectures, late-night study sessions and disrupted sleep routines of college can be a nightmare. Studies suggest that college students with A.D.H.D. are at greater risk for academic and psychological difficulties, and have lower grade-point averages, than peers without the problem. ...

When [students with ADHD] come to college without the external supports of parents and teachers to keep them organized and on task, oftentimes they struggle mightily to get everything done that they need to get done, [Dr. Mark H. Thomas of the University of Alabama student health center] says. Even those kids who have done relatively well in high school still struggle.

To help prepare for the challenges that ADHD students will face in college, Parker-Pope's article advised parents to evaluate the level of services that are offered at the university and consult with a physician to determine if medication changes are called for.

Labels: college, Attention_Deficit_Hyperactivity_Disorder, support

Posted By: Aspen/CRC