ADHD Linked to High Dropout Rates

Here's another compelling reason to treat childhood ADHD as soon as it is discovered. According to researchers from the University of California Davis, ADHD is linked to high school dropout rates and failure to graduate from high school on time. Approximately 33% of high school students with ADHD do not graduate with their class, which is a high number compared to the 15% national dropout rate. Additionally, the study found that students who smoke tobacco, use drugs, or take alcohol are at higher risk of dropping out.

While having ADHD is no guarantee that a child will not finish high school, the symptoms can impede school performance, which demoralizes a child and discourages him from completing his education. Besides treating your child's ADHD, there are several things that you can do to make sure that your child excels at school despite his or her symptoms.

Change school environment

Sometimes, a desk and the four walls of a classroom just isn't enough for your ADHD child. The school's curriculum may be too simplistic and dull for your child's active mind, or perhaps the staff cannot adequately address your child's unique needs. Either way, moving schools or homeschooling your child may be the key to helping him or her graduate from high school. A recent parent survey shows that changing schools eliminated many of the ADHD symptoms that plagued their children. Talk to your child and find out if there's anything at school that's keeping him or her from excelling, be it the curriculum, inattentive teachers, or relentless bullies.

Find a mentor or tutor

Mentoring and tutoring are two types of one-on-one relationships that help students build self-esteem, feel confident, and succeed at school. A mentor is one who provides support, advice, and helps a student cope with the symptoms of ADHD; usually, the mentor is someone with ADHD who has found ways to overcome the disorder. On the other hand, a tutor helps a student with academics or specific needs like math, reading, or writing.

After-school enrichment

After-school activities inspire interest in various fields, which can motivate an ADHD child and reduce the risk of school failure. Theater, music, and individual sports are just some extracurricular activities that work well for those with ADHD.

Family involvement

If there's one thing studies consistently show, it's that family involvement has a positive and direct effect on a child's school performance. It is also one of the best predictors of a child's success in school. You don't have to sit down with your child every night and help him or her get homework done; simply enforcing a routine at home, showing encouragement, and showering your child with positive reinforcement will be enough.

Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about what is ADHD.

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