(((((((((ksenter)))))))))))))



Here are my suggestions:

1. Talk to your teachers. Explain you were just recently diagnosed with ADD and a processing speed deficit. Provide the documented proof as needed, or the number to the doctor who did the assessment. Most teachers can have mercy if you talk to them NOW rather than later. They can usually be convinced to let you submit assignments late, or do makeup work. Talk to them, it can't hurt.
2. Does your school have a disability centre, or a health services building? Somewhere you can get academic accomodations? If your college has something like that - go talk to them NOW. You might not be able to save your classes this semester, but it will help you in the future if you can academic accomodations for tests/assignments/exams.
3. If you don't have what I mentioned in #2, then do you have an academic advisor? Academic advising centre? Or talk to someone in your department/program who knows something about the academic system. Explain the situation and see if they can give you advice or talk to your teachers.
4. Did you learning psychologist provide you with any advice/tips to deal with these new diagnoses? Perhaps medication for the ADD? Counselling? If they didn't give you suggestions - call them back, and ask them to give you academic advice on how to deal with all of these current academic troubles.
5. Do NOT give up on your goals. Otherwise you can wind up depressed dealing with everything - and you'll do more poorly in school. Try to stick to reasonable goals, but don't sell yourself short. You aren't dumb. You are struggling but it can be dealt with, when you're given enough support.
6. Do you have a therapist/counsellor? Can you see one at your college? Go talk to someone, I know when I was first diagnosed with my list of learning disabilities I was really depressed. Talking about it helped a lot!
7. Post-It notes, and a journal. Write everything you need to do or bring ANYWHERE in a journal. Keep it with you and take it everywhere. Write down things. Little notes to yourself in places with a Post-It note helps too!!
8. Are you in the right program? Perhaps you can look at your career goals, and maybe another academic program would be a better fit? If you're not completely interested in the material in a class, you're not as likely to do well.

I hope that's not too much information for you... but I've been where you are, and I want to help. Keep posting, we want to be informed about how things happen - for better or worse (hopefully for the better!)