ADHD in College
This is the Executive Function (EF) skill most commonly impacted for college students with ADHD, often leading to difficulty starting an assignments.
What is task initiation?
The #1 external distraction for college students with ADHD.
What is the phone?
This simple scheduling trick helps students start studying and limits overwhelm.
What is time-blocking or creating a start time?
ADHD brains seek this, which increases engagement and motivation.
What is novelty?
A student rereads the same paragraph over and over but can’t absorb it. This EF function is failing.
What is working memory or sustained attention?
ADHD brains often struggle in long lectures due to this EF challenge related to time and sustained effort.
What is sustained attention?
Internal distractions—like stress, self-doubt, or overthinking—come from this source.
A: What is the emotional brain / internal noise?
A 10–25 minute focus period followed by a break—coaches use this technique often.
What is the Pomodoro Technique?
Executive functioning occurs in this part of the brain.
What is the prefrontal cortex?
A student spends 4 hours making an assignment “perfect” instead of completing it.
What is perfectionism leading to task paralysis?
College students with ADHD often avoid assignments that feel boring or overwhelming due to low activation of this brain chemical
What is dopamine?
A cluttered workspace or busy dorm room overwhelms this EF system.
What is working memory?
Coaches often teach students to externalize the next small step using this strategy.
What is task chunking?
Exercise boosts focus because it increases blood flow and this neurotransmitter.
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What is dopamine?
Q: A student can't focus in their dorm room. A coach may recommend this strategy.
What is studying in a different environment?
Many ADHD students overestimate how long they can focus, a challenge known as this.
What is time blindness?
This common ADHD symptom causes students to think about every other assignment while attempting one.
What is mental multitasking?
This quick strategy helps a student regain focus by taking one slow breath and noticing what pulled their attention away.
What is a mindful pause?
When ADHD students get “stuck,” this EF skill—needed for shifting tasks—is impacted.
What is cognitive flexibility?
A student hyperfocuses on one assignment and forgets the rest. Coaches help by teaching this skill.
What is prioritization?
The tendency to switch tabs, apps, or tasks frequently is a hallmark ADHD pattern called this.
What is attention-switching or cognitive shifting difficulty?
When a student spends hours “researching” instead of working, perfectionism hijacks this EF skill.
What is prioritization or task initiation?
This coaching method encourages students to notice when focus drifts without judgment and move back with intention.
What is nonjudgmental redirection?
Students with ADHD often need structure because this internal system is inconsistent.
What is self-regulation
"I can’t start because I don’t know where to begin." This coaching tool helps students break the freeze.
What is creating a 3-step starter plan?