Teaching Students with Attention Deficit Disorder
Students with Attention Deficit Disorder have extreme difficulty concentrating, and generally cannot remain focused during a lecture, when attempting to read a textbook, or when completing homework or exams. These students are very easily distracted, and stimuli that would go unnoticed by many of us, can be most disrupting to the life of the student. Students with ADHD have these symptoms combined with what is often extreme hyperactivity. In addition, a student with ADD or ADHD may experience depression and/or anxiety. Stress can worsen the manifestations of ADD and ADHD.
Sometimes symptoms can be treated with medication; however, this is not effective in all cases. Even those students who are experiencing positive effects from medication, generally require certain accommodations.
Because the student may not be able to concentrate fully during lectures, they may require ongoing dialog with you, to ensure that they have no blank spaces or inaccuracies in their lecture notes.
Helping to arrange for a note taker or providing the student with a copy of your lecture notes will allow the student to focus on your words during class, without the challenge of attempting to write it down while trying to listen.
Exams can be particularly troublesome for the student with ADD/ADHD and his or her classmates. The student who is hyperactive may need to move about; this can be disturbing to other test takers. In addition, common background noises (dropped pencils, coughing, sneezing, or a squeaky chair) can appear magnified to this student and can destroy concentration. The student will most likely require additional time in which to complete exams, due to time which may be spent off task and short attention span, and an alternative testing location, to ensure that the environment in which the exam is given is as free of distractions as possible.
The student may need to be taught learning strategies that are appropriate to his or her brief attention span. Contact the Director of Accommodative Services (ext. 7643), to discuss this.
Students with ADD/ADHD must present evidence of a clinical interview by qualified professionals. Their complete relevant educational and medical history, and evidence of a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD that substantially limits one or more major life functions (including learning), when receiving services for this disability from the Office of Accommodative Services.
