ADHD+or+ADD+and+Gifted


 * Example from a Previous Student:**

ADHD/ADD and Gifted by Linda Rodriguez
There are many misconceptions surrounding Twice Exceptional persons. Although some believe that a person who is truly gifted will not have any challenges or disabilities this is simply not the case. Attention Deficit Disorder with or without hyperactivity is found in persons with high intelligence. ADHD and ADD occur in about three to five percent of the population in general.Both ADHD/ ADD and giftedness can have a genetic component. Certain individuals are both gifted and affected by ADHD/ADD. Since the characteristics of those with ADHD/ADD are similar to the traits found in gifted persons it can be difficult to accurately determine the causes for a student's behaviors.Sensitivity, intesity, impatience and high energy levels are characteristics of both ADD/ADHD and Giftedness. It takes skill to determine the root causes of these traits. For instance, boredom from a lack of challenging material in a class can produce the same inattentiveness seen in students with attention difficulties. Misdiagnosis in a school setting is common due to these overlapping traits. However, it is vital that a child be accurately diagnosed in order to properly serve that child. ADD/ADHD is diagnosed using three criteria. The behaviors or traits must be present before age seven. Those behaviors must have existed for at least six months. And the individual must experience dysfunction in his/her life. The examiner uses surveys given to the individual and to those who are in close regular contact with the individual such as the parents and teachers. The examiner also observes the person and records the behaviors seen. All of this information together creates a profile that is evaluated in order to determine wheter or not the individual has an attention deficit and if the attention deficit is present, whether or not it is complicated by hyperactivity. It is preferable to have a team of examiners involved.including both a physician and a psychiatrist or psychologist as the traits of ADD/ADHD can be very similar to those associated with other disorders. Misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis both occur in individuals with giftedness. A gifted person's traits of becoming bored easily or moving quickly through tasks can be misunderstood as being a sign of ADD/ADHD. On the other hand, a gifted person's hyperfocus can give rise to prolonged attention and ADD/ADHD is wrongly ruled out. It is ,at times, very difficult to gain a true understanding of the gifted individual. It is important to have a correct diagnosis as early as possible since children with ADHD, in particular, can lag behind their peers two to three years in social maturity and emotional development. Gifted children tend to be two to four years ahead of their peers in these areas. It is plain to see that appropriate placement for these twice exceptional children is complex and matters a great deal. Finding the right level of cognitive stimulaton in relationship to their social/emotional development requires not only the scores on the various assessments but insight on the part of the team determining placement. When working with gifted children who have ADD/ADHD it is imperative that the curriculum be engaging and suited to the child's level of development. Behavior problems can be kept to a minimum when the child is able to focus his/her talents and energies interacting with subject matter, materials and ideas that capture his/her attention.

Resources

[|http://www.nagc.org.aspx?id=170]

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[|http://www.dukegiftedletter.com]