ADD?? - Wolverine maybe?
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| Thu, 06-08-2006 - 11:08am |
DD (18) has ADD and is taking Strattera (highest dose available). So far this has been a huge help. I also worked with her to adjust her study methods. These changes made a wonderful difference for DD during the last 2 years of high school. She has set some pretty high goals for herself. She plans to finish college in 3 years. The problem is that she is taking college classes and is really struggling. She has enrolled in 4 classes during the summer - 2 each term. She also has set a goal of a 3.75 gpa for this summer. She thought that since this was "just" community college it would be a piece of cake. She's realizing that college is alot of hard work. Between attending classes and studying, she's literally only taking breaks for meals and showers. Even on the weekends, she's studying all day Sat and Sun. She is going out on Fri and Sat nights for about 4 hours. The stress is starting to get to her. She's snapping at DH and I and even her b/f. Yesterday was my birthday and we went to eat with my in-laws. She didn't like what her food (and it wasn't good) but despite my MIL's offer to get her something else and everyone at the table's offer to share with her, she sulled up and pouted. DH really came down pretty hard on her when we got home. I ended up shouting at them both (just to be heard over their shouting) to hush and drop it. Happy birthday to me!!
This is not like her. I'm going out of my way to give her study time with no distractions. In the afternoon, when she's studying, I pretty much try to stay in my room or schedule any errands so that she can be distraction free. She and I talked a little later on last night and she talked about how frustrating it is that she has to read everything 3 times and most students only have to read it once. This is physically and mentally wearing her out. I told her we would think about it and see if we can come up with something to help her.
Now, my questions to you guys are:
Has she psyched herself out? Is she just having a serious case of freshmen nerves?
Do I suggest that she drop one of her courses scheduled for July term? I don't want her to feel like I'm suggesting she isn't capable of doing this. But I also want her to have a life. I want her to know that it is a wise person that realizes their limitations and adjusts accordingly.
Do I try to encourage her to change her goals? Graduate in 4 or 5 years instead of 3. She will take this as a failure. I also think maybe it's too early in her college life to suggest this. She's just 2 weeks into college and maybe some adjustment time is in order before we go this route. BTW, this is her goal, not mine but she did get the idea from her dad and I b/c we both graduated in 3 years. We both worked during those 3 years and I was married with a baby at home part of thime. I think she sees that as a challenge. I also think she wants to do this so that she and b/f can start grad school together.
Any suggestions of additional study methods that I've missed? She makes notes cards and highlites as she is reading. This forces her to pay closer attention to the material plus the notes cards are easier to review from. The problem is that writing the note cards really does take a lot of extra time (plus my living room is full of note cards). I've also tried to set up a separate study area for but she prefers the living room with the TV off. I can't do laundry, cook dinner or even walk outside w/o disturbing her. I am becoming a hermit confined to my room. My house is a major wreck.
I've suggested that she use the on-line resources that the publisher of the text has made available (quizzes, outlines, etc.) but she refuses. She has her set study habits (note cards, highliting, etc) and she doesn't want to take time to adjust her processes. Plus if she's on the net, the temptation to chat with her friends is too great.
Any help would be appreciated.

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Hi tobylady ... hugs to you today!
I don't have any first-hand experience with ADD or their meds, but if this were me and my DD, this is what I think I would do:
First off, aren't summer courses more accelerated than semester courses anyway? In an algebra class I took recently at our community college, I remember the professor talking about how she had to cram so much material into such a short-term for summer classes, how fast-paced she had to go to do that and to us students, to avoid it if we could!
Since it is so early in her college career, I'd first tell her how proud I was of her for setting such high standards and goals for herself, but that I was concerned with the level of stress she has put herself under. Explain to that her health and well-being is far more important than a GPA or finishing college in 3 years and that her current stress level, outbursts, limited time with friends and bf was an indicator that it might be too much for her to handle at this point and time. Then, I think I'd ask if she was sure she wanted to continue in this mode. If she said yes, then I'd try to let it alone for a few more weeks and see if she settles in a little better.
If, in 2-3 weeks, nothing has changed I think I would encourage her to cut herself some slack, assuring her that there is absolutely no shame in allowing herself more time to graduate nor was there any in allowing herself a little room in her GPA. I would tell her I knew she was working hard, but something had to give and I didn't want it to be her health. This is a time she should be enjoying life and having a little fun.
I too, think it is a wise person who understands their limitations and capabilities and adjusts accordingly. That is a good point to remind your DD of.
As far as study tips go, for me, reading and highlighting doesn't make the material sink in. I actually have to read the material, then write, well now I type, it all out. I can cut and paste those documents into study guides and lists, then those can easily be printed out to study before tests. I had DD doing the same things, plus some flash cards, to help her study for her finals this week.
Hope this helps, if even just a little.
Julie
I think Julie had some wonderful advice. Summer courses ARE harder because they have to cover so much in such a short period of time. After going thru a couple of summer college classes when I was going to college (and I was in my late 20s) I quickly learned not to take more than 1 class per summer session. I was working f/t at the time, but I didn't have any LDs that would slow me down. I can only imagine how hard it must be for your dd taking 2 classes per session. I would really talk to her about taking it down a notch and dropping one class per term. I mean, goodness, isn't she *just* out of high school? The child needs to give herself a break.
My ds15 is ADD and dyslexic. We have learned over the years that he learns much more efficiently when the subject matter is read out loud to him and/or there is much discussion in class. He learns audibly. Me, I have to learn by reading. It's just a matter of figuring out how you learn best. If your dd learns better audibly, has she sought out any study groups that are in her classes? That may even distract her more and not be a viable source of help for her, but I thought I would throw it out there. Does she or can she tape the lectures in class? I was a horrible note-taker and I used to tape several of my prof's lectures so I could create study notes later. She could also create tapes of her study notes so she could listen to it while driving, etc.
Your dd is doing wonderfully well, and she should keep that in mind over all else.
Oh, and happy belated birthday! :)
Thank you for your words of encouragement. I also thank you for your reminder about the problem with summer classes being so condensed. I will use this when I am talking to her. Her dad and I have both told her repeatedly how proud we are of her for the seriousness that she has given this and how hard she is working but sometimes I think she uses that in her head as a reason to push herself more. She doesn't want to disappoint us and she maybe she feels like if she we are telling her how proud we are of her, if she works harder, we'll be more proud. With her, everthing is a fine line all the time.
She's a wonderful girl but very, very emotional and it's a constant struggle to keep things even tempered around her.
I do think that maybe we need to have a short talk now about her stress level and then revisit it in a week or so to see how things are before the second term starts.
Thanks!
It sounds like she is doing fine. It's an adjustment and she has to learn what its going to take to achieve what she wants-it IS different than high school and my oldest refused to believe it until he saw it for himself.
I took a Spanish class at the community college and found the internet textbook information invaluable; I would suggest she at least take a look at them before the tests. Maybe her teacher doesnt work from them but I'd want to find out pretty quick.
My adult ADD friend oulined everything when she went back to school. That is what worked for her. I wonder if it has something to do with putting it all together instead of bit and piecing it????(which flashcards tend to do)
There is a theory that ADD is just another place on the autism spectrum and, if you look at it that way, making connections is likely a weakness
She probably knows if her issue is more memory or connection related-that should affect the way she studies
There is also something about timing your studying-I wish I could find the original link I once had but this is all I could drum up
http://www.memory-key.com/NatureofMemory/sleep.htm
We, of course, tell them to get a goods night sleep but there is something statistical about sleep and long term memory
My 14 yr old is off Strattera right now but I may put him back on for starting high school next year. He slept so much better on it-for him that was the biggest noticeable difference and I always wondered if THAT was as much of what helped his learning as the attention issue(where he insisted he didnt notice a difference) He was able to sleep properly and the info could go into long term memory???
I'm afraid I don't have any advise for ya, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY! My dh's birthday is June 6th.
Reading this thread made me realized that I have not done enough to help my kids learn good study habits. Why? I never learned them myself. I did okay in school with minimal effort.
You should take at least part of the credit for your dd doing so well in school - at least you have obviously taught her good study habits. I know an extremely large part of it is her own desire to do well, and that you cannot give to anyone, but I now realize I should help my kids more and I don't even know where to begin! I advised ds16 that highlighting might help, but he can't highlight in his textbooks as they are passed on to the next kid and that would be considered defacing. I must admit I'm like my kids in that I look at the material (for finals) and get so overwhelmed I don't know where to begin, especially with Algebra (Greek to me).
Not sure if this helps in any way but it is something that happened to me back in the dark ages of college...I was also determined to finish in 3 years. It ended up that with all the various prerequisites for this and that, I HAD to go the full four years to get all the requirements in (physics). So I double majored instead (math), which has definitely been advantageous for my career; likely moreso than just finishing one degree faster. FWIW.
Sue
Hmmm... I generally try to keep my class load around 3 classes (12 credits or so) each semester, and then take one or two more courses in the spring/summer. Of course, I'm not sure if I can compare my upper 300 or 400 level classes to her introductory level courses at a community college, but
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