Many students with a learning disability and/or ADD may not have been diagnosed while in elementary school or high school. These students may have been unknowingly able to compensate for their weaknesses. Once in college, these same students realize the compensatory skills used in high school are no longer effective.

A learning disability is a life long neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to receive, process, store, and communicate information. It does not mean a person is stupid, lazy, or unmotivated. Symptoms to look for include difficulty attending long lectures, difficulty understanding rapid speech, frequently misunderstanding what is being said, being a slow reader, having to re-read information and tracking with finger, difficulty taking notes while listening to lectures, confusing right and left, complaints of seeing /feeling non-existent movement of letters while reading, difficulty remembering, and difficulty verbalizing or putting thoughts/words onto paper.

Attention Deficit Disorder is not a learning disability, but it does affect learning. It is a condition associated with difficulties with attention, impulsivity, and overactivity. It can interfere with all areas of life and tends to be genetic. According to Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), medical science first documented children exhibiting inattentiveness, impulsivity and hyperactivity in 1902, but referred to it by other names. One consistent aspect of ADD is its inconsistency! Symptoms to look for include chronic forgetfulness, difficulty following instructions, excessive distractibility, excessive talking, poor attention, fidgety, frequently losing things, poor organizational skills, difficulty in accurately judging the passing of time, chronic procrastination, difficulty controlling emotions, saying/doing things without thinking first, and jumping from task to task without finishing each one.

There are other conditions that can mimic ADD/Learning disability, such as:

• Hearing loss
• Vision difficulties
• Sleep disorders
• Substance use (legal or illegal)
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Thyroid disorder
• Seizure disorder

If you think you may have a learning disability or ADD, please contact Student Counseling Service for a screening. A screening is a decision making tool to help you decide if a formal evaluation is needed. The screening does not result in diagnosis. You may schedule a screening appointment by registering for services at http://scs.tamu.edu or you may call 979-845-4427 for additional information.

By By Michelle Murphy, L.P.C.