The Effects of AD/HD on Education

While AD/HD affects all aspects of daily life, education appears to be the most severely impacted area. Children and young adults with AD/HD tend to pay less attention during class, be more hyperactive and disruptive during class and complete less work than their “normal” peers. As a result, many fall behind in school, are held back, placed in special education, suspended or expelled or eventually drop out on their own. Students with AD/HD tend to have lower test scores, class ranking, and GPA’s; moreover, fewer students with AD/HD go to college and, those that do go often do not earn a degree.

Given these dismal effects, what can we do to minimize the negative impact of AD/HD on education? First is early detection of AD/HD. As previously stated, the vast majority of the AD/HD testing patients at the Neuropsychology Clinic are college students. Most of them had difficulty learning and fell behind early on, struggled through high school and then hit a brick wall in college. Many parents avoid having their child tested because they don’t want to admit that their child might have AD/HD or another related difficulty, they don’t want to medicate their child or they try to avoid the cost of AD/HD testing. As a result, parents inadvertently cause their child to struggle, often to the point that they feel “dumb” or “worthless,” or have dropped or failed several classes by the time they actually seek diagnosis and treatment. Having your child tested for AD/HD at the first sign of difficulty and effectively treating the disorder, along with any other conditions that may exist, is the first proactive step to ensure the best educational outcomes for your child.

Next is getting the teachers involved. To most teachers, there is a big difference between a child who has difficulty in school because he or she is simply not trying and a child who is genuinely trying but has trouble because of AD/HD-related difficulties. Many teachers are willing to take extra time with children who have AD/HD. In addition to extra assistance from instructors, some students qualify for and benefit from academic accommodations (e.g. separate room to complete tests or assignments, longer time to complete tests or assignments, front row seating, etc.).

Third is a vocational assessment and job skills training during high school. This will help evaluate your child’s unique skills and guide his or her career choices or areas of college study.

Because many students feel overwhelmed by the greater demands of a college course schedule, it may be helpful for a college-bound student with AD/HD to start out at a community college. This will encourage a more smooth transition and allow the student to gradually work up to the four-year college level. Regardless of whether your child starts out at a two-year or four-year college, it is important to involve instructors and advisors. Much like in primary education, making educators aware of your child’s AD/HD and corresponding school-related difficulties will help them guide him or her through a more beneficial college experience. There are also academic accommodations similar to those offered in primary school available for the college level. In fact, many of our college-age patients seek testing to see if they qualify for university accommodations.

In short, untreated AD/HD can have profound negative effects on education. However, with early diagnosis and treatment and a little help along the way from parents and teachers, many students with AD/HD are able to excel at even college-level courses and go on to enjoy fulfilling careers.