Tips for Common ADHD Challenges From A Certified Educational Therapist
October is ADHD Awareness Month. In the United States, one in every six children is estimated to have ADHD. ADHD students are bright, joyous, and creative problem-solvers and innovators. But like for many of the students with learning challenges we tutor at Learn Thrive Grow Academic Support, we know getting their academics on the right track can be daunting.
Here are the three most common concerns that we hear from parents and some of our top tips and tricks to address them.
#1 My student has trouble focusing at homework time.
While many students are getting accommodations at school, they often have not yet identified the “accommodations” that work for them at home. A key challenge for ADHD students is an inconsistent supply of two neurotransmitters that are key to concentration, dopamine and norepinephrine, and after a long day at school, many students find that they are in critically short supply of both.
Though they may have fewer distractions at home, they may still be unable to focus due to the lack of the “right” stimulation to trigger the neurotransmitters they require for attention and executive functioning. They may resort to less productive means of increasing their stimulation, such as social media and video games.
Unfortunately, these media have intentional hooks built in that make it difficult for students to disengage. Hence, it is very important to experiment and find the “healthy” accommodations at home that will provide the “right” stimulation and maximize homework (and/or tutoring!) time.
One way to do this is to integrate “ADHD friendly” tools and supplies. Stimulation in the form of movement or color can boost neurotransmitters. Organizational tools (and lots of practice with parent or tutor supervision) can also help to support executive functioning skills. Here are a few of our favorites (note: some of these are affiliate links, but all are our favorite products we use and recommend daily):
Fidget spinners, stress or sensory balls, sensory rings, to increase focus (your student will need to experiment to find the right ones for them, but once they do there is often immediate relief).
Wobble seats, wobble stools, or yoga ball chairs to provide sensory stimulation and increase focus.
Rebounders are a great way to increase sensory stimulation during a quick break or possibly even study while bouncing by listening to self-created study recording or listening to an audiobook!
Rainbow Grid Paper to increase focus and help with lining up math problems.
Grid Paper for help with lining up math problems.
Colored pens so that your student can color code to help make information “sticky,” such as using a different, but consistent color for each subject across notebooks tabs, assignments, and notes.
Visual Timers allow younger students to “see” time and help students focus and get things done (homework, chores, brush teeth, or getting out the door on time, etc).
#2 My student never knows what their homework is.
During virtual learning, many of our ADHD students actually had an easier time with their assignments since their teachers were posting the homework online. When school went back in person, many teachers abandoned their online assignment portals. Not knowing what their assignment is or due dates for homework and upcoming tests is a common issue for ADHD students and one for which home-school coordination is essential.
If your student has this challenge and has an Individualized Education or 504 Plan, you can request an accommodation from the teacher(s) to check your student’s planner to verify that they have correctly recorded their assignments. If the teacher can do just this one thing until it becomes second nature to the student (this might take a year +), they will have given that student an incredible gift which will unlock educational and professional doors for the rest of their lives.
It might also be helpful to spend some time to find just the right planner for your student. You may need to buy a few (return those that don’t fit the bill) and check them out thoroughly. For instance, an academic planner with space for assignments and after school/weekend activities might be helpful for ADHD students who need to plan their entire day from morning to night. A planner that incorporates more color and fun might help some ADHD students focus and provide the “right” kind of stimulation. In some situations, you simply can’t find the right planner, so you could consider having one custom made, or creating one yourself using Canva.
#3 My student can’t get to sleep at night.
It is impossible to emphasize the importance of adequate sleep to the ADHD (and really any) student. Recent data shows that sleep is directly associated with academic performance. Unfortunately, it can often be difficult for ADHD students to turn off their brains and get the shut eye they need.
Setting and enforcing regular bed and wake times is essential to getting the body clock on a rhythm. Numerous studies also show that exercise during the day improves sleep and attention. Adding a blue light blocking program to your student’s computer so that it limits blue light after sundown and setting a rule that all electronic devices must be shut off one hour prior to sleep are both critical to establish the right melatonin levels for sleep.
Finally, we find that a good bedtime routine is beneficial to students of all ages. If reading a book is too stimulating for your student with ADHD, some students find that a quick five minute massage with a sleep-promoting essential oil is all they need to send them straight to sleep. Some students find a heating pad (parent should unplug before going to sleep) or hot water bottle helpful.