My husband has Adult ADD and would like to earn his GED.?

Question

My husband has Adult ADD and would like to earn his GED. However, he can't sit and watch/listen to someone drone on for hours without stimulating content. Is there a solution to this? Does anyone know of GED materials that are fun and interactive?
Please, only serious answers.

Answer 1

Has your husband been tested for his ADD by a professional psychologist who is trainded in ADD? There are specific test that can be done for adults (and children). After the testing there is medication that he can be given that will help him with his concentration and his ability to watch/listen to the content given him. I'm not talking about Ritilan here but other medications are available - my husband has been on some as well. If you and your husband are not against meds it would be worth looking into as a possible solution to your situation. Many adults have ADD and have learned how to manipulate their workplace and lifestyle to live with it - but there are others that still need help.

Answer 2

I have ADD and I managed to get a Ph.D. from a major university so nothing is impossible. People with ADD are all different and ADD affects them slightly differently. I would ask your husband what he enjoys learning the most--is it fixing cars? sports? Botany? History? etc. Then I'd ask him what about it that he likes and maybe watch him while he learns. The idea is to figure out his individual style. Then you can start to figure out things neither of you may be aware of, for example, maybe he likes writing if he uses a special pen or maybe he likes to count windows. what might be a fun way to learn for one person with ADD might not be fun for another. People with ADD have lots of hidden talents and they often themselves don't know what they are, and often they don't know what they like even when they are liking it. If you figure out his 'style,' you can then find strategies that might work, like having a watch that vibrates every half-hour to become more aware of time. Technology can help but it has to be geared to the person rather than vice-versa. You could speed up the process by getting an ADD 'coach', but they charge quite a bit of money $75-$100 an hour, so I'm trying to give you ideas how you could be the coach. You could buy a book on becoming a coach for someone with ADD; it won't cost more than $15, and if you have common sense, you should be able to be as good as the so-called professional ones. Look up Attention Deficit Disorder Coaching on Amazon.com and see what books pop up.

Answer 3

Even if you do find a way to help him study the test is hours long over a two day period usually. ( I took it in Texas in 2000) You may want to check because now some states require you to take a course before you take the actual test. I wish I could help more, good luck, it's a very important thing to get.

Answer 4

get an actual diagnosis first, get treatment. If he has every received services for this issue while in school (I don't know how old he is) but if he did he could be eligible for certain accommodations while he is in the GED program, i.e. shortened testing periods.

Answer 5

Who CAN sit through boring droning for hours? If he can sit still just like everyone else for something interesting I don't quite see where this qualifies him for special consideration.