What is Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)?
ADD is an umbrella term used to describe several different disorders that affect an individual’s ability to concentrate. A person who has ADD generally has had one or more of the following symptoms over a long period of time: distractibility; short attention span, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. There are several types of attention-based disabilities, including ADD and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The acronym ADD is often used to represent all of these different types as is done here.

How is ADD diagnosed?
ADD is generally diagnosed by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or medical doctor using a behavioral checklist in combination with obtained history and observations both per self-report and by third parties such as parents and teachers. The DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) lists the following symptoms: lack of attention to details; makes careless mistakes; difficulty sustaining attention to tasks; does not seem to listen when spoken to directly; fails to follow instructions carefully and completely; losing or forgetting important things; feeling restless, fidgeting with hands or feet, or squirming; running or climbing excessively; often talks excessively; often blurts out answers before hearing the whole question; often has difficulty waiting his or her turn. A certain number of these symptoms must be present and also be excessive, pervasive, and long-term. Other medical and psychological factors must also be ruled out. For example, low blood sugar or an anxiety disorder.

Is poor classroom performance a sign of ADD?
Not always. There are many reasons why some students do not do well in school. While someone with ADD may be experiencing difficulties in an academic setting, such as poor exam grades, students without ADD often face the same difficulties. The opposite is also true. Students with ADD graduate with honors, go on to medical school, become lawyers and scientists and college instructors. Many times an instructor won’t even know a student has ADD. In fact, people with ADD generally have above average to superior intelligence. It cannot be assumed that every student with poor classroom performance has ADD, and it cannot be assumed that a student with high grades does not have ADD.

How do I know if a student in my class has ADD?
The most important sign is self-identification. Students with ADD generally have been diagnosed at an earlier point in their education, such as in grade school, but this is not always the case. If a student is having problems in a class, the most important step is to have a thorough conversation with the student as to his or her perceptions of the problem. Simply present your concerns to the student, example, “I’ve noticed you make a lot of basic mistakes on your exams even though you really seem to know the material,”or “I notice you have trouble staying on topic during discussions.”

What should I do if I suspect a student has ADD?
The most important thing to do is to meet with the student and discuss your concerns. State observable fact rather than speculation, for example, “I’ve noticed you move around a lot in class and take a lot of breaks.” Saying, “I think you have ADD,” can be off-putting to a student or serve as a premature and possibly inaccurate diagnosis. If the student reports having a history of ADD, refer the student to the SDS office. If the student is uncertain as to why he or she is having difficulties, offer the services of SDS. Explain to the student that when a student is having trouble in class and is not sure why, the SDS office may be able to help figure it out. If there is a suspicion of ADD, the office can talk to the student about this in more detail.

What happens once I send the student to SDS?
SDS staff sit with the student and help sort through his or her concerns. Questions are asked to help the student gain further understanding into academic difficulties, for example, what are your strengths in school and what are some of your challenges? We ask students directly why they suspect they have ADD. We also ask students they have ever been diagnosed before.

What can the SDS office do?
If a student has not been diagnosed but has an interest in being tested, we can discuss this process with them. Our role is to provide information as a starting point for the student to explore this area further. We can discuss what to expect out of an ADD evaluation in terms of time, cost, process etc. If the student has been diagnosed we will ask the student to bring in their documentation for review and discussion. Once the documentation is received, we will talk with the student about what services will benefit them.

What kind of help is available for a student with ADD?
Help can be divided into two main areas: (1) Academic accommodations (sometimes called adjustments) and (2) learning assistance.

Academic adjustments are required under federal law for students with disabilities. Details as to this process can be found in the section, How to Obtain Accommodations. Common academic accommodations for students with disabilities include extended exam time, use of a computer for in-class essays, audio books, private exam location, audio recording lectures, and preferential seating. These legally required accommodations will be listed on an Academic Adjustment Notice from the SDS office, which the student is responsible for providing to you.

Learning strategies are ways the students can be helped but are not legally required accommodations. That means, while you don’t have to do these things, they can help. An example of a common strategy is meeting with students one on one during office hours to be sure the student understands instructions for assignments. This is something any student has the right to request from an instructor and can benefit from, but for a student with an ADD, this is often a crucial step in achieving academic success. It is important to note that it is the student who is primarily responsible for requesting meetings with the instructor.

Should students with ADD be graded differently?
Absolutely not. Students with ADD have a right to be held to the same standards as other students. This includes being graded on the same criteria. As long as accommodations are provided, academic success is up to the student. The accommodation process is designed to equalize the playing field so students with ADD have the same chance of success as other students. To grade students with ADD differently is discriminatory, as is lowering standards in other ways such as requiring fewer assignments. However, you can still treat these students the same as other students in developing extra-credit assignments, alternative assignments, extensions etc.

What if a student with ADD is not doing well in my class?
Treat the student as you would any other student who is not doing well. Have a conversation with the student. See if the student is taking advantage of available resources such as the Learning Center. Encourage the student to seek assistance if needed and to meet with his or her academic advisor. Refer the student to SDS to determine if full accommodations are being utilized.

What if the student is receiving accommodations but still not doing well?
We can guarantee access but not success. While it is important we do everything we can to help students succeed, we cannot guarantee that every student will pass every course. Even with accommodations a student can fail a course. Be sure to refer the student to SDS so we can ensure appropriate accommodations are being provided.

Does the SDS office offer testing for ADD?
No. However, we can provide the student with information about getting evaluated and help connect students to available resources. Students are also encouraged to bring suspicions of ADD to the attention of their primary care physician and other health-care providers.

Besides providing accommodations, how can I help?
Encourage students to meet with you if they are having any trouble academically. Make time to meet with them and review the tips on this page.  

What if I need more information?
Additional information about working with students with disabilities is available from the Office of Student Disability Services. For additional information, contact Student Disability Services either via email at studentdisability@newschool.edu or phone at 212.229.5626.