Advice for students with ADHD or those who are just a bit "scatterbrained"

<p>Invest in a smartphone.</p>

<p>Seriously. I was tested for ADHD and tried like four medications before deciding to not take any of them. My phone has helped me manage my life more than anything else has. For all the kids who could never keep up with paper planning journals, calculators, dictionaries, etc... Have you ever permanently lost your cell phone? Probably not. And there's an app for all of that and a zillion other things. Having portable Internet solves many of my problems. I'm typing this on my phone right now. It also helps me with time/schedule management and concentration (calendar app, notes app, white noise or music in headphones when studying).</p>

<p>I hope I'm not sounding like one of those troll marketers because I really want you all to try using the thing that helped get me through high school and into college. There is a huge difference between modern technology and paper, and most of our parents and counselors prefer the latter because it's what they're used to. My parents and counselors gave me paper calendars to use and they made me feel sick to my stomach for numerous reasons: I lose them. I forget to take it out and use it, or say I will later and then forget to do that. My handwriting is atrocious. I've heard this is true for many students with ADHD. </p>

<p>Then I got a smartphone. Suddenly, I knew what my homework was, I could read what I "wrote" on my un-losable calendar/notepad, and I remembered to take it out and look at it because I'd already have it out for texting purposes, etc. I'm confident about being ready for college in the fall partially because of my little phone. If you have any questions or comments, please do share. I want to help other kids (or parents of kids), having been through a household and school system that hasn't quite understood my struggles.</p>

<p>Thank you for your post. I have considered getting one for my S who is 16 and going into his Jr. year. Unfortunately, his hs has all but banned cell phones. I will definitely keep your post in mind, though, when he goes off to college.</p>

<p>An iPod touch will do this, too!</p>

<p>Good suggestion. And yes, some hs ban the cellphones… so deliverables need to be written on paper first. (Luckily more and more hs have assigment lists and such available online). </p>

<p>REMINDER - MAKE SURE EVERYTHING ON THE CELLPHONE IS BACKED UP IN OTHER WAYS.</p>