Nita Shrader has been with Health Services for 22 years and has recently seen a trend with more people coming in, questioning themselves, and asking if they have a problem. They are wondering if they have Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder.

“We have two to maybe five students a week, especially this year, coming in and asking, ‘Can you test me, or see if I can be tested,'” Shrader said, an Administrative RN at Eastern’s Health Services.

Studying and cramming a lot of information is usual for finals preparation. Some students study successfully. For others, especially for those with learning disorders, the pressure of exams can be a frustrating process.

“The brain can only comprehend so much,” said Shrader. _

ADHD is characteristic of people who consistently display certain behaviors over a period of time. The most common symptoms include: distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

According to the Attention Deficit Disorder Association, approximately 4-to-6 percent of the U.S. population has ADHD. Many more are believed to have the symptoms but have not been medically diagnosed.

An individual with ADHD feels as if everything is happening all at once. This person loses perspective and the ability to prioritize. He or she is always on the move. They can create a sense of inner turmoil that can lead to panic attacks.

Students with ADHD must overcome harsh obstacles in order to stay on track both academically and socially.

“I couldn’t concentrate in class or when people were talking to me,” said Victoria McKenzie, a sophomore communication studies major, who was diagnosed with ADHD last year. “I had to nod my head like I knew what the hell they were talking about.”

Students who think they might have ADHD, but have never been tested, can go to Health Service to see if something is wrong with them. From there, they are referred to Dr. Albert Lo, who comes from Champagne once a week to administer such testing.

Roughly 270 students are registered with the Office of Disabilities Services; the majority of which have ADHD, and the second largest group has different learning disabilities.

McKenzie’s diagnosis resulted from a psychological evaluation where doctors observed her head supposedly “moving 16,000 times in 15 minutes.” Victoria was happy to be diagnosed because now she is receiving the treatment she felt she needed. Now she takes the prescription drug Adderall XR.

“The treatment helped me focus in class a lot more,” she said. “I can actually focus on one thing. It makes class a lot less boring because I don’t feel out of it.”

McKenzie’s case is one of the many scenarios where a student has to balance having a learning disorder with being a student. However, students with disabilities are not alone.

Eastern caters to the needs of students with learning disorders through many departments including Health Services, the Counseling Center, and the Office of Disabilities.

“The mission of the Office of Disability Services (ODS) is to advocate for students with disabilities so they have an equal opportunity to participate in all facets of University life,” said ODS Director Kathy Waggoner, as part of their mission statement.