As a certified ADHD coach at Bass Educational Services, one of the most common challenges I see with my clients is the struggle with effective studying. For many neurodivergent students, traditional methods can feel frustrating and ineffective. My core philosophy is that the key isn’t to study harder, but to study smarter by using techniques that align with how an individual's brain is wired.
Over the years, I've worked with countless students to transform their study habits from a source of stress into a system for success. I’ve compiled my top 10 most successful study hacks—techniques I customize with my clients—that help build a foundation for a truly successful school year.
The first step I take with my clients is helping them become aware of how they are studying. They learn to identify their habits as either passive or active.
Many students I begin working with realize they rely almost entirely on passive methods, which explains why information doesn't often stick. Recognizing this difference is the first, most crucial hack.
Once a student can identify their habits, I have them track their methods for a week to see the ratio. For a test on a Friday, the goal is for them to shift almost entirely from passive to active methods by Monday or Tuesday. This strategy directly helps them address challenges with working memory by forcing the brain to engage, strengthening the neural pathways needed for long-term recall.
I often remind my clients that research consistently shows one of the most powerful ways to solidify understanding is to teach the topic to someone else. This process forces a student to organize their thoughts, simplify complex ideas, and identify gaps in their own knowledge. It’s a fantastic way for them to study with friends, explain concepts to a family member, or even record themselves teaching the material on their phone.
That self-recording from the previous hack is a valuable tool. I suggest that my clients play it back while they’re winding down for the evening or doing chores. This turns passive listening into a powerful reinforcement tool. Some of my clients have had great success listening to their recordings as they drift off to sleep, which is a low-effort way to get one more repetition in.
This is a client favorite and is grounded in neuroscience. A person's sense of smell is the sense most strongly linked to memory. A fascinating technique is to leverage this by matching a specific, unique flavor of gum or mint to each subject. For example, a student might make English a mild watermelon flavor but assign a strong cinnamon to a more challenging subject like Chemistry. They chew that flavor only when studying for that class. Then, before an exam, they use the same flavor. The taste and smell act as a powerful sensory cue, helping to trigger information and improve recall.
For students who struggle with planning ahead, I always advise them not to do it in isolation. When a big test is a week away and they feel procrastination creeping in, I encourage them to schedule a brief appointment with a teacher or their executive functioning coach. The simple act of creating a study plan with a thinking partner dismantles the "Wall of Awful" that so often prevents neurodivergent students from getting started.
In our digital world, it’s easy for notes and textbooks to feel trapped behind a screen. A critical strategy I teach for learners with executive function challenges is to externalize information. I advise them to print out online notes or PDF chapters and physically write their own thoughts in the margins. This engages tactile learning and reduces the heavy cognitive load on working memory, allowing them to interact with the information in a more meaningful way.
I love using the "detective" analogy with my students. The brains of many individuals with ADHD and ASD are exceptionally good at seeing patterns and relationships that others miss. I encourage them to use this to their advantage with a corkboard. By pinning up key concepts and physically moving them around, they can see the big picture and better remember the connections their brain is making. Snapping a photo of the board creates an excellent, personalized study guide.
I always discuss nutrition with my clients because what they eat has a direct impact on focus. The ADHD brain, in particular, thrives on a high-protein diet, as protein helps regulate the neurotransmitters responsible for focus and motivation. I often suggest they try focusing on their protein intake for the three days leading up to a big test and notice the difference in their mental clarity and stamina.
Finally, I stress two foundational habits: hydration and sleep. Dehydration impairs cognitive function, so keeping a water bottle nearby is essential. Most importantly, sleep must be protected. I see so many teenagers sacrifice sleep to cram, but this is incredibly counterproductive. The brain consolidates and stores information during sleep. A lack of it is devastating for memory retention and recall during an exam.
To make these study hacks truly effective, they need to be implemented consistently and tailored to a student's personal needs. As an executive functioning coach, I've found that having support and accountability is often the difference-maker.
If you’d like to learn more about how to harness your student's strengths and build a personalized system for success, I invite you to connect with us at Bass Educational Services. I would be happy to provide more information on how we help students achieve their goals. Click here to schedule a free call with me.