ADD often has a powerful negative impact on a person’s ability to do well in school. Except for classes that are small or highly interesting, many people with ADD have significant problems. Here is a list of common school problems.
1. Restlessness
The hyperactivity that often accompanies ADD in childhood causes obvious problems in the classroom: the child is restless, out of his or her seat,
irritating other kids (not to mention the teacher) and causing turmoil and disruption in his or her path. In teens and adults, the restlessness of ADD often distracts others in the class who notice the constant movement (i.e., legs shaking, shifting body posture in seats).
2. Short Attention Span and Distractibility
Having a short attention span and being easily
distracted affects nearly every aspect of school, including a student’s ability to follow teachers in lectures, participate in small groups, attend while reading, and perform consistently on class assignments and tests.
3. Impulsiveness
Impulsiveness causes serious school problems. Blurting out answers in class, speaking tactlessly or disrespectfully to teachers, responding impulsively on quizzes or tests, and saying things without thinking are typical. With ADD, the mouth is often engaged before the brain.
4. Procrastination
Many people with ADD wait until the last minute to complete their tasks for school. If it isn’t the night before, they cannot get their brain upset enough to get their work done. Procrastination in school also causes the work to be done poorly or it is usually left undone or incomplete.
5. Trouble Shifting Attention
Some people with ADD have trouble shifting their attention from thing to thing. They have a tendency to get “stuck” or over-focus which can interfere with a student’s ability to follow a lecture or effectively take notes.
6. Forgetfulness
This symptom often upsets the parents and teachers of
ADD students. Forgetting to bring home books, leaving clothes at school, and not turning in homework assignments that were completed are common complaints.
7. Learning Disabilities
Learning difficulties and disabilities are very common in people with ADD. It is essential to recognize and treat these disabilities if a student is going to perform at his or her potential. Common disabilities are writing disabilities (getting thoughts from the brain to the paper), reading disabilities (shifting or reversing letters or numbers) and visual processing problems and auditory processing problems (trouble accurately hearing what was said).
8. Unusual Study Habits
Many people with ADD have unusual study habits. Most need a very quiet place to study. Other people with ADD need noise in order to study. Some people have told me they need the TV or radio on, or they need some noise in order to keep themselves awake and focused.
9. Timed Situations
Timed testing situations are often a disaster for those with ADD. Whether it is short math “drill” exercises, classroom writing exercises or testing situations, the more time pressure that is put on these people, the worse it tends to get for them.
ADD, like many other conditions, is not just a single and simple disorder; therefore, treatment is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We have identified
7 types of ADD—and each requires a different treatment plan because of the diverse brain systems involved. What works for one person with ADD may not work for another—or could even make the symptoms worse!
85% of patients treated with the Amen Clinics Method experience improved quality of life after just 6 months of treatment!
Amen Clinics has helped tens of thousands of people with ADD from all over the world. With targeted treatment, you can change your brain and change your life. If you feel that you or a loved one could benefit from an evaluation, contact the
Amen Clinics Care Center today at
888-288-9834.
