I recently attended the 2023 International Conference on ADHD. Their theme this year was "Connect, Learn, Thrive." There was a wealth of valuable information, and the following is worth sharing to help you or your child on their attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) journey.
This was a prevalent theme across many presentations, especially those discussing finding the best-fit college when you have ADHD. It sounds like common sense, but when you have ADHD, pursuing your interests is critical. A primary motivator for those with ADHD is high interest in a task. With little to no concern over consequences, those with ADHD struggle to maintain attention on mundane, rote, or boring tasks. However, once they find something they are passionate about, stand back and watch the magic happen! My ADHD son is a self-proclaimed space nerd with his relentless learning about anything related to space flight and technology. Because of his interest and intense focus, he was a national finalist in an essay contest about traveling to Mars and is currently crushing it at the small aviation and aeronautical college he attends. As parents, we need to support and encourage the interests of our ADHD kids to put them on the path to success.
It is possible for those with inattentive ADHD to get stuff done once they understand how their unique brain works and ask the right questions.
Most information on ADHD focuses on elementary- and middle-school-age children. I quickly found out that once your ADHD teen transitions to college, there are fewer and fewer resources available for students and parents. There are an estimated two million college students with ADHD. Students with ADHD can take up to twice as long to graduate from college compared to their neurotypical peers, will often attend several colleges trying to find the right fit, or may drop out.
Helping your child choose a college is a daunting task when you have a neurotypical child, never mind a child with ADHD. Colleges don’t make it easy to find information as a student or parent regarding academic accommodations, mental health counseling, and policies regarding ADHD medication (some schools won’t prescribe ADHD medications due to concerns over diversion and abuse among non-ADHD students). A study of 200 four-year colleges and universities found that more than half did not have a policy for assessment and treatment of ADHD, and only a third had information online about assessment and treatment.
We are fortunate our son goes to a school that offers comprehensive disabilities services (all colleges and universities are required to offer basic services, some institutions offer more than others). His university also accepted his high-school 504 Plan as confirmation of his ADHD diagnosis and eligibility to receive academic accommodations. However, many institutions require a re-evaluation to confirm an ADHD diagnosis for incoming students, which can be cost-prohibitive for many families.
With the rise and growth of digital platforms, the internet has made access to information easy and convenient. Recently there was an explosion of ADHD self-diagnosis on the popular social media platform TikTok. A 2022 Canadian research study evaluated 100 of the most popular ADHD videos on TikTok and found more than half had misleading information and less than a quarter had useful information. So how do you know if the information is reliable? Be aware of sites that are based on personal experiences, sensationalism, or outdated information; trust sites that are based on scientific knowledge. Reputable sites like Psychology Today, Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), The Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA), The Child Mind Institute, and ADDitude offer a wealth of information on ADHD.
References
Aluri, J. & Goodman, D. (2023). Navigating ADHD Assessment and Treatment for College Students. The International Conference on ADHD, Baltimore, MD.
Linton, S., & Litvak, J. (2023). A comprehensive look at the college life cycle for ADHD. The International Conference on ADHD, Baltimore, MD.
Luther, B. (2023). Inattentives thrive when they understand their 5 E’s. The International Conference on ADHD, Baltimore, MD.
Sparks, T. (2023). The Power and peril of online information. The International Conference on ADHD, Baltimore, MD.
Valuable Information on ADHD From the Scientific Community
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07.12.2023
I recently attended the 2023 International Conference on ADHD. Their theme this year was "Connect, Learn, Thrive." There was a wealth of valuable information, and the following is worth sharing to help you or your child on their attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) journey.
This was a prevalent theme across many presentations, especially those discussing finding the best-fit college when you have ADHD. It sounds like common sense, but when you have ADHD, pursuing your interests is critical. A primary motivator for those with ADHD is high interest in a task. With little to no concern over consequences, those with ADHD struggle to maintain attention on mundane, rote, or boring tasks. However, once they find something they are passionate about, stand back and watch the magic happen! My ADHD son is a self-proclaimed space nerd with his relentless learning about anything related to space flight and technology. Because of his interest and intense focus, he was a national finalist in an essay contest about traveling to Mars and is currently crushing it at the small aviation and........
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