AIBU to ask if any benefit in seeking assessment for ADD for university student?

[Rebbecia1234]

Looking back, 20 year old DS has always struggled massively with organisational skills. Okay at primary school, but difficulties started from secondary school onwards forgetting homework, forgetting equipment, losing stuff, silly errors in exams due to misreading questions Etc. This was much commented on by teachers at parents evenings. DS is bright and has managed to do well enough in GCSEs and A-Levels to get to uni. However, now he has reached the second year of his degree, the amount of work required has massively increased and he has fallen behind and is struggling to cope. He has managed to get through previous exams doing a lot of learning by rote just before the exam. As the amount and complexity of work has increased, this strategy is proving less effective. Due to Covid, all lectures are recorded, so he has not been listening to them live. As one of the world's biggest procrastinators, he has got very behind on listening to the recordings of lectures.
He has so many symptoms of Attention Deficit disorder, I was wondering if it would be worth him being assessed to see if he has this condition? DS himself thinks he has got it. Would he need to approach his GP about assessment or perhaps his university? What help is available if you are diagnosed with ADD?
Any advice would be much appreciated. I feel like I am watching him fail, but don't know what to do to support him.

I work in a university disability team. Some if the conflicting and ideas about support on this thread are because each university has its own policies. The only bit that's common across universities is the DSA. So your son needs to go to the disability team at his university to get advice about what to do.

I got an assessment for learning difficulty through student support services at uni. There were multiple different 'tests' that could be done. The assent was arranged with a local company. I had an initial interview to determine what the problem might be and which test would be most appropriate. The cost was £300 which was covered by the university. I had a dyslexia test in the end as the psychologist decided that sounded closest to my problems. It resulted in a specific learning difficulty being identified, which if was an undergrad would have meant some financial support for learning aides, additional exam time, relaxed deadlines and councillor support.

First port of call is definitely student services. I would expect a well oiled machine as they deal with this all the time.

We are going through similar with my 18 year old, who I am absolitely convinced has Developmental co-ordination disorder / dyspraxia. We was assessed in primary school (twice) but was told he didn't meet the threshold for diagnosis. In secondary, the policy was that if he needed to do exams on laptop or in a room by himself they would arrange that for him on need - no diagnosis needed. He's a bright boy and got an unconditional offer for uni starting this september.

Two months in and the Uni are saying no diagnosis, no special arrangements to do assessments digitally. So we're having to revisit diagnosis. A friend who works in the area says not to even try CAMHS as the they are SO overstretched, as is the Uni's own health and wellbeing service. So we're shelling out around a grand for a private assessment. Sticking point now is getting the Uni to decide whether that assessment should be done by an occupational therapist or an educational psychologist.

Thank you all for generously giving up time to post advice. It mean a lot and I am going through each one carefully.