Can ADHD medication help students stay organized?

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often makes it hard for children to organize their lives. They struggle more with keeping things in order, managing their time, and planning ahead compared to other kids. This can affect their schoolwork, causing them to forget assignments or lose important items. These difficulties can continue into adulthood, impacting their job performance and opportunities.

Studies have shown that medication can significantly improve organizational skills in children with ADHD. In a detailed study, children aged 8 to 13 showed notable improvements in their ability to organize, manage time, and plan tasks while on Ritalin (methylphenidate).

However, even with medication, some children still faced challenges in staying organized.

For college students with ADHD, medication has been a helpful tool. It has aided them in focusing and organizing, but it hasn't completely closed the gap in academic achievement when compared to their peers. In a study, over 90% of students with ADHD felt that medication helped them academically, especially in focusing and organizing.

Medications like methylphenidate are common for college students with ADHD. While these drugs improve focus, they don't always boost skills like organization or time management. Their effects are also limited in duration. There's also a concern about the misuse of these medications, including not taking them as prescribed or sharing them with others.

An alternative to medication is therapy focused on teaching organizational skills. A program designed for college students with ADHD includes sessions on time awareness, task breakdown, and implementing organizational systems. These sessions, along with practical exercises, have shown promise in improving organizational skills in these students.

A recent study explored a new intervention aimed at helping college students with ADHD improve their organizational and study skills. This intervention led to significant improvements in attention, ADHD symptoms, self-concept, and organizational skills, suggesting its potential effectiveness for students struggling with ADHD.

Beyond therapy and medication, there are practical strategies others with ADHD have used to help them stay organized. We've collected some of the best strategies, endorsed by Redditors, below: