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Question 27: I was hopping you could clear up some confusion with me. Is ADD/ADHD a LD? Or is LD's just common with ADD/ADHD? All the books I am able to get my hand on to are vary out of date. And don't give good information. On top of the fact I seen to live on a back hole for information an TS, ADD, and the like. I was also wondering if you have any advice on explaining to College instructors that a I have TS. That I am fine and nothing will serious happen to me whale I am ticing. (I had some problems at the end of the semester with caching a flue that made me tic really bad and some instructors panicking. And I don't wish to repeat it next semester.) R.J., CA, USA.

Hi R.J.:

Learning Disabilities basically mean that you aren't achieving well in school NOT because you are dumb, but because you have a hard time showing people the ability you have inside you for some reason. ADHD, by this definition, IS a learning disability. Technically, though (in the books that doctors use) ADHD is a separate diagnosis from the Learning Disabilities. Therefore you can be diagnosed with BOTH learning disabilities (there are 3 types -- reading, writing, and math) and ADHD. This is probably why the books you are reading are confusing regarding whether ADHD is an LD or not!

Regarding explaining TS to your instructors, you might want to give them some pamphlets from the Tourette Syndrome Association to read -- that way, ON TOP of what you tell them they have a piece of paper written by a credible source that says the same thing. It just gives you a little extra backing. You might also want to tell them that they should feel comfortable approaching you at any time if they have questions or concerns.

You mentioned you were having a hard time finding good literature for understanding (and explaining) TS -- the best books available, or where they can be ordered from, can be found at www.lifesatwitch.com/books.html. Also, some tips for surviving college when you have ADHD can be found at www.lifesatwitch.com/helpful.html.

That being said, if I wasn't so short on time I would write an entire essay on how impressed and proud I am of you for 'coming clean'. It does indeed solve (and prevent!!) more problems than it could ever create, and you are way, way ahead of a lot of people in terms of growth and self-assuredness for doing so.

cheers R.J.!! - Hope this helps.
Dr. Dunc.

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