Psychological Disorders
Accommodations | AD/HD
Psychological disabilities are defined as "… a persistent psychological disorder
or psychiatric disorder, emotional or mental illness that adversely affects educational
performance and/or functioning and frequently requires medication."
Students with psychological disabilities will often not be recognizable in the classroom.
Some may request extended time for classroom testing or a quiet, distraction-free testing
environment. Others may not identify themselves at all.
May Include:
 extended time for
exams, quiet testing area with a proctor
notetakers, readers
or tape recorders in class
seating arrangements
that enhance the learning experience of the student
incompletes or late
withdrawals in place of course failures in the event of prolonged illness
assistance with time
management and study skills
encouragement to use
relaxation and stress-reducing techniques during exams
flexibility in the
attendance requirements in case of health-related absences
Psychological disorders fall into the group of invisible disabilities that may have little
or no impact on learning. With proper diagnoses and treatment, students with psychological
disorders are generally productive and successful in the academic environment.
Some students may exhibit negative behavior such as indifference or occasionally disruptive
behavior. In the event of disruptive behavior, the student should be informed of the specific
limits of acceptable behavior in the classroom and on campus. As for all students, the CSUF
Student Code of Conduct must be followed.
Concentration and attentional difficulties with or without hyperactivity
is called Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder (AD/HD) and is a neurologically-based medical condition. It is a developmental
disability characterized by inattention (difficulty sustaining attention to tasks), impulsivity
(difficulty in refraining from saying or doing whatever comes to mind), and/or hyperactivity
(excessive talking, fidgeting, or movement).
In an academic setting, students with AD/HD may have difficulty grasping the main idea
of a lecture or reading assignment. They may experience slow reading and/or writing, and
they may be hampered by their inability to screen out distractions while studying or taking
exams. Those students with AD/HD for whom pharmaceuticals are prescribed may also be subject
to side effects of the medication. As with any other type of disability, there is considerable
variability among students diagnosed as having AD/HD.
Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)
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