Tourette syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are extremely complex, inter-related behavioral problems that can devastate both the affected child and the child's family. The medical community has increasingly come to recognize that these are genetic disorders, that much of the behavior is biochemically driven, that that a variety of medications can be extremely helpful in modulating the behaviors toward normal. Despite this, an equal, and sometimes more than equal degree of improvement can come from an educational and psychoeducational approach. I have had many hundreds of parents tell me that their child had a "good year" when they had a teacher who understood their disorder and was willing to be flexible and use innovative approaches to help the child, and had a "horrible year" when this was not the case. Teachers (and others) who are not familiar with these disorders often label the behavior problems as "psychological problems," "parenting problems," "not working to their potential," "laziness," "severe emotional disturbance," or "out and out delinquency." While these disorders clearly do not exclude children from also having some of these labels occasionally be correct, in most cases the behaviors rapidly improve when the medication is right, the educational program is right, or especially, when both are right.

While other books on these conditions help us to understand the clinical aspects, neurochemistry, genetics and medical treatment of these disorders, Teaching the Tiger is uniquely designed to help teachers, parents, students, and relatives maximize the educational plans necessary to help these children. This can be so effective that for some children this understanding of their condition and appropriate help in the classroom is all that is necessary. For the others who require medication, it can make the difference between whether the problems are largely eliminated or remain a major impediment to progress. An understanding teacher and an appropriately designed educational plan is a critical part of treating all of these children.