Education is a widely recognised, powerful tool for society and for individuals. Neurodivergent students experience cognitive fatigue and impaired attention regulation, which are associated with poor academic performance and outcomes (Henning, Summerfeldt,& Parker, 2022). While attending classroom lectures and writing exams are struggles to sustain in academic performance. The Journal of Attention Disorders (2022) identified that a lack of attention to academic performance, it leads to cognitive fatigue. A systematic review from 2017-2022 shows that ADHD students require executive function, Time management, and persistence in academics (Muller & Piko, 2026).
The university students with ADHD failed to attain the same growth as Neurotypical students. It is big and tragic to compete academically with other students. Some students failed to put in their potential and dropped out of university. Addressing the problem, evaluating them, and taking steps to restructure the academic curriculum and infrastructure for ADHD students is mandatory. It helps improve their academic performance and increase their GPA.
Read More: Academic Pressure and Its Effect on The Mental Health of Students
Mental Exhaustion in Cognitive Fatigue
Inattention and hyperactivity are reasons for mental exhaustion of academic students, especially university students, who face severe complications under pressure and stress. They drained their energy while trying to perform their academic tasks. If the students have cognitive fatigue impairs productivity, reduces memory, and leads to unorganised academic progress.
Assessment tools for cognitive fatigue and ADHD students
Academic assessment tools help to measure difficulties and evaluate academic performance. This helps to fulfil the needs of academic students to succeed. Educators, psychologists, and professionals use these tools to help with better identification.
1. Corner’s adult ADHD rating scales
This tool helps to measure ADHD symptoms and identify attention deficits of students with ADHD. If the students scored high shows great difficulties in regulating attention, that makes cognitive fatigue during long days for students. Undergoing tests helps individualise support plans, including study schedules and CBT strategies (Tris pharma, 2023).
2. Baekley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale
If the students have cognitive fatigue impairs productivity, reduces memory, and leads to unorganised academic progress. Baekley deficits in executive functioning scale evaluates executive functioning such as working memory, planning, and self-analysing fatigue-related planning and organisation issues. Educators implement these techniques to improve step-by-step instructions or organisational aids (Alphability, 2023).
Read More: Screen Fatigue and Academic Stress in the Age of Digital Education
3. Cognitive failures questionnaire
Cognitive failure questionnaires help individuals experience cognitive fatigue, track everyday lapses in attention and memory (Khozaei et al., 2025).
4. Academic performance metrics
Students with Cognitive fatigue and ADHD are at risk of high dropouts and cognitive challenges. Academic performance metrics help to contextualise real-world academic success. Academic data support vulnerable students.
Implication of classroom accommodation
Accommodation addressing attentional deficits and mitigating cognitive fatigue:
- Flexible Time: Classes, seminars, and deadlines are the same for the neurodivergent students and the neurotypical students. ADHD students face cognitive fatigue that fluctuates throughout the day. It takes time to process and understand a concept. Deadlines extension is also needed to perform well in academics, equal to neurotypical students. Scheduling flexible time and deadlines improves academic performance.
- Breaks during lectures/ exams: Students need short breaks to prevent overload and restore attention resources. A recorded lecture helps to understand well and use in flexible time
- Alternative formats and adaptive pedagogy: Oral presentation, project-based assessment, and open-book exams, and adaptive pedagogy help to get attention and promote active engagement(Understood,2022)
- Technology Assistance and Apps: With the help of technology tools and education applications such as text-to-speech software, digital reminders, planners, and to-do apps, helps understand content more easily, plan their ideas, and manage time. Examples- Learning Ally Audio, Google Calendar and mind mapping software.
- Counselling programmes: Setting up counselling programs like Accessing Campus Connections and Empowering Student Success (ACCESS) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helps students address individual issue on studies and improve focus on academics.
Monitoring outcomes and quality indicators: core indicators
Screening and assessment tools identify cognitive fatigue and the level of inattention, which helps monitor the evaluation of students. Tools like Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS), Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale (BDEFS), and Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) monitor outcomes, track baseline follow-up in different terms
- Short term: changes in CFQ and BDEFS scores; student self-reports of lecture/exam endurance.
- Medium term: GPA changes; course completion rates.
- Long-term: retention and graduation rates; student satisfaction with supports.
Policy gaps in inclusive education for ADHD Students
The Right of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, encompasses 21 categories of disabilities, but it neglects ADHD students. This excludes ADHD-struggling students from accessing scholarships, flexible time accommodation, and beneficiary services. The New Education Policy (NEP 20202 mentioned the importance of inclusive education, but did not specify for ADHD students. Policy makers should address the inclusion of ADHD students in universities and academics in the Right to Persons with Disabilities Act. Services that are needed for ADHD students in Higher Education
- Counseling centers
- Tech support
- Flexible time
- Exam modification
- Professional counseling
- Tailored pedagogy
- Peer mentoring
- Accommodation
Universities’ support system in India
Despite formal reorganisation, some universities and disability rights groups proactively support to encourage neurodivergent students. They provide Disability Cell, the Office of Learning Support, and the Equal Opportunity Cell, counselling and peer mentoring.
1. Christ University
Christ University facilitates a centre for Counselling and Health Service. With the psychological evaluation, recommending accommodation and addressing identification of cognitive fatigue and follow-up through counselling sessions and supports to design individualised study schedules, flexible timing, scribes modified internal assessments, and Classroom buddy programs.
2. Indian Institute of Management (Bangalore)
Indian Institute of Management (IIMB) runs the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI). After the clinical evaluation, students get credit time and separate exam seating. Accessible hostel, mobility support, and curriculum flexibility. Also supports counsellors and tutors, and provides workshops.
3. Ashoka University (Haryana)
Ashoka University executes the Office of Learning Support (OLS). OLS provides services free of cost. It requires a detailed diagnosis report and AAFR and ATIF forms to extend deadlines, flexible time, and recorded lectures.
4. NLSIU
National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bangalore operates support, counselling, and accommodation, such as flexible deadlines, accessible campus events, and awareness in the classroom. Moreover, universities like IIT Madras in Chennai, University College of Medical Science (Delhi University), University of Hyderabad, FLAME University (Pune)
Conclusion
Cognitive fatigue is not just a lack of interest; it reflects neuro-psychological limits in sustained attention and executive control. Using data to evaluate them, constantly follow up on their progress, and randomised trial testing fatigue-reduction classroom interventions are the strengthen academic performance. Every student deserves to be educated; ADHD and other disorders are not a barrier to that. Universities and policy governance take initiatives to support and create good infrastructure for students with ADHD from the ground level to the higher level.
Resources +
Henning, C., Summerfeldt, L. J., & Parker, J. D. A. (2022). ADHD and academic success in university students: The important role of impaired attention. Journal of Attention Disorders, 26(6), 893–901. https://doi.org/10.1177/10870547211036758
Khodaei, F., Carbon, C. C., Khozaei Ravari, Z., Assi, S., Ul Islam, Q., & Amir, A. F. (2025). The impact of ADHD symptoms, class size, and classroom area on university students’ selective attention. Discover Psychology, 6(27). (doi.org in Bing)
Müller, V., & Pikó, B. (2026). The combined ADHD profile faces the greatest risk of delay, depletion and disengagement in university students. Scientific Reports, 16, 10353. (doi.org in Bing)
Government of India. (2016). The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Ministry of Law and Justice.
Ministry of Education. (2020). National Education Policy 2020. Government of India.
Alphability. (2023). Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale (BDEFS-CA). Retrieved from https://www.alphability.com
Tris Pharma. (2023). Common ADHD rating scales and assessment tools
Moond, M., & Ahmad, W. (2020). Aligning the National Education Policy (2020) with the RPwD Act (2016) for inclusive and quality education in India. Apex University
Sachs Centre. (2026). Top 7 ADHD classroom accommodations for success. Retrieved from https://sachscenter.com
Understood. (2026). Classroom accommodations for ADHD. Retrieved from https://www.understood.org
