<p>I will be attending college in the fall and have always done "alright" in school. I was accepted to a great school and am really excited.</p>
<p>My problem is that I am wondering if I should get help for my focusing problem. I really don't want to come across as a hypochondriac, but something is not right. I've always done very well on tests such as the SATs and I don't even mind taking them (I see it somewhat as a game and sort of enjoy it even.) However, in classes I cannot hold my focus for more than 10-20 minutes. This has been happening for all of high school and even middle school. I will get to class, hyperfocus and take plenty of notes for a while and then before I have a chance to notice what's happening I'll be daydreaming or talking to the person next to me or counting down the minutes until class is over. I don't mind so much not being able to pay attention, but more the fact that I know I'm not working even close to my potential. My parents have met with numerous teachers who request meetings to explain that it just doesn't seem like I care or try. I can't help it though, I try to hard to focus it just doesn't happen for me. My teachers would also frequently comment on report cards that I was a distraction for other students and needed to stop talking in class.</p>
<p>Now I am wondering if this is something I should deal with before college. My high school gpa of 3.2 was not terrible, but definitely not what I was capable of with 2310 SATs. I should mention that I also have been having trouble focusing when I play tennis, which I do every day. I will play the first couple of games perfectly fine and then just kind of lose interest, which isn't normal because I LOVE tennis and look forward to each match.</p>
<p>Sorry for the long post, but my parents seem to think I'm fine so I just don't know if I should look into this before it's too late and I'm not doing well in college.</p>
<p>You should be evaluated by an educational psychologist if you suspect you have problems focusing, especially as concerns academics . If your parents are unwilling to have you tested, then perhaps you can get testing once in college. I know a student who had all of his testing done (and paid for) on referral from the learning disability center at his college. He was a sophomore and could not figure out why he was not performing up to his potential. He was diagnosed with a learning disability, got help, and is on track to graduate later this year. You know, if your parents are not willing to take you to see someone specifically for possible learning disabilities then ask to see any therapist (tell them you are stressed out or something); any good one will be able to point you (and your parents) in the right direction if an LD is suspected. Good luck.</p>
<p>See this is where I'm torn. I think that both of the opinions that are presented here are possible. Less so the lack of motivation, but maybe perhaps lack of challenge? I'm not sure. If it weren't for the fact that I could take (and enjoy!) the SATs, then I would be very seriously worried, as would my parents. For now it's more in the back of my mind, but it keeps popping up and is something I think I should get resolved before college, if it is even an issue.</p>
<p>Would you be comfortable seeing if you can reach your GC and if he/she can recommend one or two people?</p>
<p>Or, you could call your college's counseling center and see if they are able to help. With this second approach, you could have a counselor on or close to campus if that seemed appropriate.</p>
<p>As the mother of a child with ADHD, I must take issue with the view that the SAT's are somehow the ultimate test of focusing ability. My daughter had no trouble whatsoever staying focused on the SAT's, but is very easily distracted in the classroom. SAT's are taken in a totally silent room where there's nothing else available to catch one's attention--no PA announcements to interrupt one's train of thought, no books and notebooks to flip through, no lunch to sneak a bite of, no one else to converse with. The structure of completing successive numbered questions and filling in answers on an answer sheet could actually help an ADHD'er keep focus--it's like being forced to follow a very narrow path. The OP's description of her tendency to daydream and talk too much tell me that testing is very much in order here.</p>
<p>I totally agree with MommaJ. I have a S with Asperger's who does not have ADHD but often has attention problems that look like ADHD. In his case, however, he has apraxia/motor planning difficulties combined with a sensory integration disorder and can become easily distracted depending on the surrounding environment - he can be either completely unable to focus or concentrate as a result of sensory distractions, or can become so focused and absorbed in what he is doing that he would literally "tune out" the rest of the world so that it did not interfere with the task he was working on (part of his ongoing "perseveration" issues). </p>
<p>And since those "tasks" are not always outwardly physical but sometimes involve mental or internal thought processes, he often looks like he is daydreaming. Not surprisingly, he did better in classes he was more interested in than in those he was not interested in (where he would also tend to "tune out" his surroundings - daydream - in order to block out the sometimes painful sensory bombardment around him). It is my understanding that sensory disorders are often present with ADHD and other conditions (or can exist with no other co-morbid conditions at all), besides autism or Asperger's where it is more typically diagnosed.</p>
<p>I also agree with the comment about using all of one's senses to study, and studying for shorter chunks of time; we discovered this on our own with S in helping him get through the classes he disliked. Besides intensive physical therapy during his younger years, we also came up with simple methods to deal with sensory issues and help him focus better (chewing gum or eating sunflower seeds while doing homework, or exercising before starting another project that will require mental activity). What probably helped him get through school the most was the fact that his school district was very proactive in incorporating the theories of "multiple intelligences" into their curriculum, and during the elementary years especially, they put a lot of effort into matching students' learning styles with teacher's teaching styles. As a result, classes and homework were much more interactive and varied - and ultimately, more interesting to the students, who in turn became more motivated learners.</p>
<p>The bottom line, of course, is that MANY things could be going on with the OP that might only be determined through testing.</p>
<p>So, first off, you totally don't sound like a hypochondriac, and I think it's good you're thinking about this problem before you head off to college. The issue could be any number of things -- it's tough to tell. It seems that since it's something you've tried to work on, the problem isn't simply lack of motivation. I agree with the people who suggested seeing an educational psychologist (or any psychologist, really). </p>
<p>And having done well on the SAT doesn't mean you don't have a real problem -- I did well on the SAT, and when I was in high school, I had a really hard time focusing. It wasn't until my last semester that I found out I have OCD (which I know sounds like the opposite of not-focusing, but with academics, it can almost act like ADD.) The good news is I started taking medication and things got way, way easier. So if you do have a problem, a psychologist can help you figure out what to do about it.</p>
<p>i was diagnosed with ADHD Inattentive a year ago......similarily, I found the SATs much easier to focus on than the classroom....I dropped out of college because I didn't get help soon enough, and am now only getting my life back together....so if your parents aren't supportive, or your doctor isn't understanding, then don't take no for an answer. I knew there was something wrong my whole life, but didn't have the guts to speak up sooner. Hope you figure things out!</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your posts and support!
I was definitely worried that I was overreacting, but reading all of your posts makes me realize that I should definitely look into this. I have managed to convince my mom to take me to a psychologist, but who knows when she'll get around to that...</p>
<p>Oh and to answer your questions transitionsuccess: I did take the most challenging courses possible at my school, which is the IB program. I recieved the IB diploma in addition to getting college credit for some extra APs. I don't think it is necessarily a lack of challenge, as I don't get straight A's or anything. However, I do have a problem studying, which may explain the lack of perfect grades. Basically, I just don't study. I can only focus for very short periods of time when studying so it's usually just not worth it. A couple of years ago, I realized I could get by just not studying and doing the minimum school work and somehow it's actually worked. I'm aware it won't work like this in college.</p>
<p>The other example I forgot to mention with regards to focusing is that I cannot watch TV. I seriously watch a show for about 5 minutes then wander away and get food or go to the bathroom because I get bored and have no interest. Also, I've never been able to sit through entire movies. I hate going to the movies because I always get fidgety and have to excuse myself to go to the bathroom so that I can wander around and not bother everyone else. Don't know if this is relevant, but it's what caused my friends to start to convince me that something isn't right.</p>
<p>That's interesting. Well, I hope that you can see an educational psychologist. I can't diagnose a specific problem, but it still troubles me that your performance is so far below your potential.</p>
<p>Scoring in the top % of the SAT's does not mean you do not have an attention problem. As a matter of fact, that is how we first suspected son had ADD. His SAT scores as a sophomore (2220) and AP scores (mostly 5's) did not in any way reflect his performance in school so we had him tested. If we had taken him in without having that discrepancy to point to, his LD may have gone undiagnosed. He was a National Merit Finalist, but still struggled to get his (easy) homework done. Unfortunately, many of his teachers held the same view as the above poster (if he tests that well, he cannot have focusing problems) and that led to a serious lack of understanding regarding his performance in class. I actually have two kids who test high and tend to underperform grade wise. One good thing for the OP is that since many college courses are graded mostly on tests, you should probably do okay there! See a psychologist. You can ask the CHADD (ADHD organization) group in your area for a local referral.</p>
<p>Great suggestions above! As I read them, I realized that I did the exact same things (recopying noted to study and memorize) in college. Although not diagnosed, now that I have two ADD kids and an ADD husband, I think I recognize certain symptoms and have pretty much accepted my "learning style." I still recopy things when I really need to know them. I tried to get my kids to do this, but it was torturous for them. You have to find what works for you!</p>
<p>This will sound counter-intutive, but I have a close friend who has learned over the years that if she is doing some kind of small hand-work project (her current favorite is cross-stitching), she is actually better able to keep her concentration on the discussion topic at hand. I take it that this keeps her fidgeting to a minimum.</p>