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ADD, NVLD, Executive Functioning Disorder - Differences

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

Can anyone tell me how organizational issues are so common in all of the above listed, but yet they identified differently? Like how can you be so disorganized, have a diagnosis of NVLD, have decent social skills, & poor short term memory…, so much of this seems to overlap to me. Do some of these evaluators just grab for a larger amount of observable behaviors, and how can you have a disorder of NVLD with a not many social issues going on? I find it very confusing.

Submitted by Sue on Wed, 04/21/2004 - 3:13 AM

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IT is confusing. They’re all rough models for groups of behaviors. However, ADD is considered essentially a chemical imbalance so, for instance, the “social skills” issues sometimes present are often because of impulse control (we all, at least until we learn not to, *think* of saying soem of those strange things ;)); NVLDs and EF disorders more cognitive issues where attention is duly paid but the information is not processed effectively.
Same kiddo could get any of the three, unfortunately, since the experts tend to see whatever it is they’re an expert about; fortunately, if they’re reasonably good experts, they know effective strategies for dealing with the problems — and that’s a good start.

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