ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, more commonly known as ADHD, has been recognized for centuries, though modern awareness of the condition has grown in recent decades. First described in 1798 by a Scottish doctor who noted that some people were more easily distracted than others, ADHD continues to affect students in classrooms today.

Students with ADHD, whether formally diagnosed or not, often face challenges with focus that can affect their academic performance. Experts say a combination of classroom strategies, organizational tools and environmental adjustments can make a difference.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends behavioral classroom management, an approach that rewards positive behavior and discourages negative actions. Teachers may use systems such as daily report cards or structured rewards to help students stay engaged.

Organizational training has also proven effective, according to the CDC. Emphasizing time management and planning can help students break down complex projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. The Attention Deficit Disorder Association suggests that teaching these skills early can set students up for long-term success.

Taking breaks is another important tool. The American Psychological Association notes that short, purposeful breaks from challenging work can restore energy, prevent burnout and sharpen focus.

Adjusting the study environment may also improve concentration. The ADDA recommends strategies such as noise-canceling headphones, limiting smartphone distractions and keeping workspaces decluttered to minimize interruptions.

While there is no single solution, experts agree that with the right support and strategies, students with ADHD can strengthen their ability to focus and improve their performance both inside and outside the classroom.

What can be done to help students with ADHD improve focus

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may seem like a relatively recent phenomenon that perhaps developed late in the twentieth century, when more and more distractions started vying for humans’ attention. However, WebMD notes the condition actually dates back several centuries to 1798, when a Scottish doctor recognized some people were more easily distracted than others.

The ADHD people know today may or may not bear much resemblance to the condition first identified in the eighteenth century, but it’s notable that issues affecting human beings’ ability to focus are not exactly a recent phenomenon. Many students with ADHD, diagnosed or undiagnosed, face an uphill battle in the classroom, where the ability to focus is integral to their success. It may take some trial and error and some help from educators and physicians, but the following are some strategies that could help students with ADHD as they seek to improve their focus in the classroom.

· Ask educators about behaviorial classroom management. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes behavioral classroom management is an approach that involves encouraging students when they behave positively in a classroom. The approach may be centered around a reward system or involve teachers issuing daily report cards. Teachers also discourage negative behaviors. The CDC notes behavioral classroom management is driven by teachers and has been shown to have a constructive impact on students of all ages that increases their academic engagement.

· Emphasize organization skills to students. The CDC notes organizational training that emphasizes time management and planning has been tested on children and adolescents and found to be effective. The Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) suggests people with ADHD learn how to break down complex tasks, such as end-of-semester school projects or exams, into smaller sub-tasks, and the planning skills emphasized by the CDC can be employed to do just that.

· Take breaks. It’s hard for anyone to maintain intense focus for lengthy periods of time, and that’s true for people with ADHD and those who do not have the condition. A report from the American Psychological Association notes that routine breaks from challenging tasks, including coursework, can restore energy, prevent burnout and improve performance. Fatigue can compromise a person’s ability to focus, so students and parents should not see routine breaks as counterproductive in relation to the goal of improving focus. In fact, purposeful breaks that are not too long can sharpen focus.

· Adjust students’ environment. The ADDA notes that several strategies can help students optimize their environment so they can better focus on the task at hand. Utilizing noise-canceling headphones while studying in a quiet spot away from noise and distraction is one way students can optimize their environment. Turning off smartphone notifications, periodically decluttering a workspace and keeping only study materials in spots where schoolwork is done can help students with ADHD sharpen their focus.

Students with ADHD may be able to improve their focus, and thus their academic performance, with a few simple strategies. BS258047

SOCIAL MEDIA TEXT: The following are some strategies that could help students with ADHD as they seek to improve their focus in the classroom.

NATIVE ADVERTISING VERSION: The text for the native advertising version of this feature is included in the text file when you download the package.