Was there ever a time in which you were able to study without as much effort? If so, what changed? Did you get burnt out from studying so much? Did you suffer through a break-up? Did you have a death in the family? Did you enter a period of sadness or depression? If any of these things apply--or if you are dealing with something else I haven't thought of--then tackling the underlying cause of your distraction would be the first step in figuring out what to do next.

One thing to keep in mind is many students experience extreme stress in their senior year of high school and in their freshman year of college. As a senior, you may have worried about finding the right college, getting into college or even graduating from high school. Now, as a freshman, you may have understandable concerns about failing or not doing as well in an environment that is more demanding.

School administrators know these years can be tough. That's why most colleges offer tutoring services and courses on how to study effectively. Many also have health and counseling services offices that can help students adjust to college. Inquire about which of these services your college offers.

If you have always had trouble studying, however, you may have learning difficulties that have not been diagnosed. If you think this is the case, know you are not alone: learning difficulties affect at least 15 million children in the U.S. according to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, and these difficulties can often carry over into adulthood.

Typical learning disabilities include difficulty with reading, studying, handwriting, spelling, math problems and calculations. These may be made worse by such associated issues as attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder in which a person has trouble concentrating or paying attention and/or is impulsive and often fidgety.

These issues can be lifelong if the issues are not addressed, and can affect a person's college and professional life--even their parenting skills. It is possible to learn strategies to deal with these difficulties, however.

The first step is to seek a thorough assessment. The health and counseling services office at your college should be able to refer you to someone who can complete an evaluation or may be able to do an assessment on-site. If it is determined that you do have a learning disability, it is likely that you'll be eligible to receive special educational services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Take care.