Is Online School Better for People With ADHD?
Online programs are becoming more popular, and some people love them while others hate them. Discover if online school is good for students with ADHD.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects the way a person's brain functions. It can sometimes lead to academic struggles.
With the increasing availability of online programs, many ADHD students are considering learning digitally. Keep reading to find out if online school is good for ADHD.
Is Online School Good for ADHD?
Some people with ADHD may find online school is a good option for them, while others may struggle with online courses.
This is because ADHD can affect each person differently. While there a specific diagnostic criteria, not everyone has every symptom, and how much those symptoms impact their lives can vary.
For example, one person may struggle with time management but can handle a lot of external stimuli, while another may be easily overstimulated but always be on time.
As a result, if you ask a group of ADHD students if they prefer learning online, you'll get mixed results. Some may say it was a huge help, while others struggled.
Ultimately, having ADHD is not a predictor of how well you'll succeed at online classes. There are pros and cons of online school for ADHD, and we've broken some of these down below.
<h2 id="section---BenefitsOfOnlineSchoolForADHD">Benefits of Online School for ADHD</h2><p>Some students with ADHD thrive in an online environment. There are a few reasons why ADHD students may prefer online courses.
</p><h3 id="section---WorkOnYourOwnSchedule">Work on Your Own Schedule</h3><p>One of the biggest benefits of <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Online_Degrees_FAQs.html">online degrees</a> in general, not just for people with ADHD, is the ability to complete coursework on your own schedule.
</p><p>While you'll still have specific due dates, you typically don't need to log on at a set time. You can complete your work at noon or midnight, whatever works for you.
</p><p>This is great news for people with ADHD, who are more likely to be 'night owls' and more likely to suffer sleep issues that make them tired.
</p><p>Someone with ADHD may struggle to get up for an 8 am, 9 am, or even 10 am class. But if they have the option to complete their work at 10 pm instead, they're more likely to get their work completed.
</p><p>Online courses also allow ADHD students to work at their own pace.
</p><p>For example, when watching a recorded lecture, students can speed up the professor's pace or rewind to catch things they might have missed.
</p><h3 id="section---FewerDistractions">Fewer Distractions</h3><p>The world is full of distractions, and many ADHD students find they can manage these distractions better at home, and in their environment.
</p><p>In class, it can be easy to get distracted by the ticking clock, chattering students, or the discomfort of lecture hall chairs.
</p><p>Students also don't need to be distracted by hunger or needing to use the bathroom, since they can get up and take care of those things without disrupting or missing the class.
</p><p>Additionally, while learning from home, students can use adaptations such as fidget toys that aren't always allowed in the classroom.
</p><p>While it can sound counterintuitive, many students with ADHD focus better when multitasking, as it keeps their minds from wandering when they're supposed to be listening to the professor.
</p><h3 id="section---WrittenVersusVerbalParticipation">Written Versus Verbal Participation</h3><p>Many students with ADHD prefer written communication over verbal communication, and online courses often give them this advantage.
</p><p>There are a few reasons ADHD students may prefer written communication. Studies show that ADHD can make it hard to articulate thoughts or feelings, which can cause a student to trip over their words.
</p><p>On top of that, many people with ADHD have auditory processing disorder, which essentially means it takes them an extra moment or two to process what someone just said or asked.
</p><p>With written communication, like the discussion boards or essay questions that are often included in online programs, ADHD students can take the extra time they need to process questions and articulate their responses.
</p><h2 id="section---DownsidesOfOnlineSchoolForADHD">Downsides of Online School for ADHD</h2><p>For every ADHD student you find who loved their online courses, you'll find another who hated them.
</p><p>There are a few aspects of online school that ADHD students may struggle with.
</p><h3 id="section---LackOfStructure">Lack of Structure</h3><p>Many people with ADHD find structure and routine to be tedious, but they need that structure to be productive.
</p><p>Often, ADHD causes people to struggle with getting things done. No matter how much they know they need to do it, they simply can not, a concept known as executive dysfunction.
</p><p>Having structure can help manage executive dysfunction. Being on campus and having a set time and location for a class often provides that structure.
</p><h3 id="section---MoreDistractions">More Distractions</h3><p>Some ADHD students may find they have fewer distractions at home, but that isn't the case for everyone.
</p><p>Even for those who live in a relatively calm environment, distractions are everywhere.
</p><p>Part of this leads back to executive dysfunction. You could do your school work or you could play video games, and video games are more interesting, so your brain gets stuck on that.
</p><p>If you don't live in a calm environment, it can be even more difficult to focus on online classes. Kids, pets, neighbors, or loud traffic can all make it hard to focus in an online setting.
</p><h3 id="section---ForgettingDueDates">Forgetting Due Dates</h3><p>It's common for people with ADHD to have trouble with their working memory or short-term memory. Attending classes in person can help with that.
</p><p>For example, someone with ADHD who is taking an online course may glance at a due date for an assignment and then completely forget about it.
</p><p>But someone attending in-person classes may have the benefit of the professor saying, 'Remember, this project is due on Thursday.'
</p><h2 id="section---TipsForAttendingOnlineSchoolWithADHD">Tips for Attending Online School With ADHD</h2><p>Whether you're excited to start an online program or are dreading taking an online course, if you have ADHD, there are a few things you can do to help you succeed:
</p><ul><li><b>Block off time to study:</b> It doesn't have to be the same time every day, but looking ahead the night before or even in the morning and saying 'I'm going to log on at 1:00' can help you stay consistent.
</li><li><b>Create a study space:</b> Make sure your space has everything you need, including your school supplies, snacks, and whatever you use to fidget.
</li><li><b>Block out distractions:</b> Use noise-canceling headphones, lock the door, set your phone to airplane mode, whatever you need to do to limit distractions
</li><li><b>Write it down:</b> You've probably heard it a million times before, but writing down important dates in whatever calendar you use will minimize the risk of forgetting a due date
</li><li><b>Ask for help:</b> Many ADHD students qualify for reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reach out to your counselor to find out what can be done to help you succeed.
</li></ul><h2 id="section---TryOnlineSchoolForADHD">Try Online School for ADHD</h2><p>Online school is great for some people with ADHD and not so great for others. With the guide above, you can determine if an online course is the right choice for you.</p>