Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and College Students
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a group of chronic disorders that begin in childhood and sometimes last into adult life. Problems can affect nearly every aspect of life. Students with ADHD often struggle with low self-esteem, troubled personal relationships and poor performance in school or at work.
7.3% of students at the University of Utah have suffered academically from reasons contributing to their ADHD. You may suffer from this or no someone who does.
How Is Adult ADHD Diagnosed?
While researchers may disagree about age of childhood onset in diagnosing adult ADHD, all agree that ADHD is not an adult-onset disorder and must be verified from childhood. An assessment of ADHD symptoms and behavior from childhood may include any or all of the following:
- A questionnaire to determine if the adult had ADHD in childhood.
- School report cards, if available, to look for comments about behavior problems, poor focus, lack of effort or underachievement relative to the student's potential.
- Discussion with the parents to determine any symptoms during childhood.
- A complete history from the adult with the symptoms. He or she may self report symptoms in childhood.
- The developmental history would be consistent with ADHD, including evidence of problems with peers, other delays such as bed wetting, school failure, suspensions, or special interventions such as sitting in front of the class, etc.
A strong family history of ADHD may also be informative, given the strong genetic component of the disorder.
Other examinations may also be performed, including:
- A physical exam to rule out medical or neurological illness.
- An EEG, CT, or MRI.
- Psychoeducational testing (for example: IQ test, achievement testing) if a learning disability is suspected.
