Attention Deficit Disorder amongst College Students

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Published on:

October 5, 2016

“Please pay attention,”

“Please look at the board,”

“Please keep your eyes at your work”…

Teachers often find themselves repeating these calls on a daily basis, and most of the times address them to the same students. They experience situations in which students sit in their classes, look away from them, or from the board, or even directly look at them, but are unaware of what is being explained, or what happens in the classroom. The students may be daydreaming, looking out of the window, or staring at something. Teachers call for their attention in an attempt to get them engaged in the lesson. These calls may work with some students, but fail with others who might be suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder, or what is commonly known as A.D.D.

a-d-d

What is A.D.D?

Attention Deficit Disorder is classified as a neurologically-based medical disorder that is manifested in a persistent pattern of inattention. A.D.D students are easily distracted. They struggle to stay focused on lectures or tasks that require mental effort. Sometimes, this inattentiveness can, misleadingly to the teacher, appear to be intentional. They may have little or no trouble sitting still, however.

Boys develop this chronic disorder three times as often as girls. Many adults are never diagnosed at a young age, and may not even be aware they have the disorder. Some are wrongly diagnosed with depression or a personality disorder in childhood or as adults.

What causes A.D.D?

Science has not succeeded yet in knowing what causes A.D.D. However, research has shown that people with A.D.D experience a lower rate of glucose usage by the brain compared to others. This defect leads to a deficiency of energy needed for the brain to function properly. Also, there seems to be a chemical imbalance in the brain that may cause a reduction of necessary and sufficient messages. Inheritance factor is a possibility, but not at a high percentage. Social factors such as parental divorce, child abuse, the death of loved one, and disasters, stand as psychological stressors that may instigate A.D.D.

What are the effects of A.D.D on the performance of students?

The following is a list of some of the possible effects:

Less likely to attend college than their peers
Learning difficulties that may lead to a delay in finishing their coursework
Higher college dropout rate
Lower GPA
Depression/Anxiety/Inner restlessness
Eating Disorders
More likely to start smoking than non-A.D.D classmates
Increased risk of car accidents

Is there a treatment for A.D.D?

Psychologist Dr. Jack A. Naglieri discusses, in this video, the steps to properly diagnose a child with A.D.D:

https://youtu.be/AF280FUe7K4

The treatment may involve either medication, behavioral therapy, or a combination of both. The behavioral approach requires seeking help and guidance from a counselor or a coach who would design a multi-facet program. It could include, tutoring all time about acquiring skills such as relaxation, committing to a regular study schedule, regular exercise, healthy eating habits, joining study groups, having a sufficient sleep, and above all meeting with teachers regularly outside class hours.

Does this sound familiar?

If one of your students displays more than one of these symptoms, it is best to consult your designated counsellor. They will be able to confirm (or not) your suspicions, and accordingly offer you some advice on how to best deal with these students and what is needed to ensure a suitable learning environment for your students.

Learn more?

If you’d like to learn more about A.D.D, you might find these resources useful:

Published on:

October 5, 2016

Categories:

Tags:

disorder, distraction, inattentative, teaching

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