Staff Writer
DeKALB | Lack of focus and impulsiveness may not be unusual traits for college students.

However, some may be suffering beyond the usual hectic college life.

Adult ADHD, attention-deficit hyperactive disorder, is present in three to seven percent of the adult population. It leads to forgetfulness, disorganization and difficulty planning and organizing, according to Dr. Frank Cushing.

Cushing, a 1978 graduate of NIU, is a clinical psychologist at the Glenwood Testing Center in Rockford.

“There is a theory of thirds,” Cushing said, explaining that about one third of those with ADHD see symptoms remit by late high school, one third see symptoms disappear in their early twenties and the last third deal with ADHD symptoms throughout their life.

As students in general may find themselves feeling disorganized or forgetful when pressures from school or family mount, self-diagnosis is not recommended.

Cushing said students should talk to their primary care physicians or a psychologist about an evaluation if they suspect symptoms beyond simple stressors.

Treatment typically combines medication with behavior modification and education, Cushing said.

Organizations to assist people with Adult ADHD, such as Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), offer information, advocacy and a directory of local professionals throughout the country.

The CHADD Web site links users to local chapters as well as online forums.
Students have two options when starting to look for help on campus, said Dr. Karen White, director of NIU’s psychological services center.

She said students may contact NIU’s Center for Access-Ability Resources or call the psychological services center.

“We do a number of evaluations each semester,” said White, explaining that evaluations will eliminate other possible reasons for students’ symptoms, such as learning problems and depression.

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