Factors Associated with Success for College Students with ADHD: Are Standard Accommodations Helping?

This study explored factors associated with success of college students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Forty-four students diagnosed with ADHD at the University of Alabama completed a 107-item survey pertaining to issues associated with ADHD symptomology, planning and scheduling of activities, study habits, focusing of attention, comorbidity of other learning difficulties, social relationships, help-seeking, and self-efficacy. The study found three factors were associated with success (as measured by grade point average) : age (older students did better), feelings of self-confidence, and basic student responsibilities (the ability to plan and follow a sequenced schedule of activities). The study also found that students with additional learning disabilities were no more or less successful than other ADHD students. Students diagnosed with ADHD by age 15 had greater difficulty in reading and less difficulty in memorizing. Assistance at the high school and colleg