Reply:   No matter what age you are, studying when you have chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) is very daunting. It often seems that preparing for tests or finals is too overwhelming to accomplish, but there is hope. First, it must be noted that during times of acute stress, such as that of studying for a major exam, sleep disorders can occur. As a result, it is imperative to get as much rest as possible. A young person with CFIDS (YPWC) should never do an all-night cram. When anyone is sleep-deprived, whether healthy or chronically ill, it is extremely difficult to think or to have clarity of thought.

Second, the answer to remembering material lies in looking at how mental processing ability is compromised in a person with CFIDS. Think of the mind in terms of how a computer processes information. The overall processing of information in a healthy person and a YPWC is the same, but the actual processes take longer in a YPWC. It is as if the computer in which the CFIDS student processes information is slower than that of a healthy person. Therefore, in order to study better, a YPWC needs to give the brain more cues when trying to recall information.

For example, try to think in terms of things that are different or meaningful to you. This form of studying is one way that a CFIDS student will better recollect material.

Some text notes are not easily absorbed. These notes should be written on a yellow legal pad of paper, since YPWCs sometimes seem to easily misplace things. The yellow color provides intensity and brings attention to itself, so that a student is less likely to lose his or her notes. Use one or both sides of the legal page. Then, the student should read and say the notes out-loud. Rewriting the notes is also a good way to help remember material. This method of studying involves the visual, kinesthetic and auditory methods of learning. It helps to lay the memory down and bypass short-term memory.

The night before a major exam, it is strongly recommended that the CFIDS student write out answers to the questions he or she thinks will be asked — sort of like pretending to write his or her own exam. By doing this the student will be forced to think like the instructor. Then, after completing and checking the practice exam, the correct answers to missed questions should be written on the legal pad and studied.

There is probably nothing anyone can do to prevent a YPWC’s train of thought from drifting. A difference between a healthy student and a CFIDS student is the shorter amount of time that a YPWC can hold and maintain attention. Instead of trying to force the brain to keep paying attention, simply take a break, shut the eyes, cool down and refocus. Do not force the brain into overload. Hopefully these tips will help YPWCs who are studying in school. Remember, CFIDS students are just as capable as healthy students. Don’t give up!