ADHD or Gifted?

Before you refer that student for ADHD testing, read this blog.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common childhood behavior disorder, occurring in 3-7 % of school-aged children. The challenge is that gifted students can display similar characteristics as those diagnosed with ADHD, leading to misdiagnosis. Furthermore, both groups can struggle with academics and social problems. In fact, some researchers claim that gifted children are disproportionately singled out for ADHD testing and such assessments are on the rise. One study found that 9.4 percent of gifted children were diagnosed with ADHD compared with 5.29 percent, the rate found worldwide with the general population of students . Gifted children may have high energy levels, vivid imaginations, and heightened sensitivity these behaviors could indicate ADHD or reflect a theory in gifted education known as overexcitablities. Overexcitabilities, based on Dabrowski’s (1964) theory of positive disintegration, a theory of personality development, are ways in which a person experiences the world. Based on this theory, a person responds to a situation is determined by which overexcitability is most dominant. Overexcitabilities can be expressed one or more of the five dimensions: psychomotor, sensual, intellectual, imaginational, and emotional. For example, psychomotor overexcitability involves rapid speech, impulsivity, and increased bodily movement—behaviors that could be labeled as “hyperactive” by those unfamiliar with gifted children.Gifted kids could also display ADHD-type behaviors due to their educational environment.  Gifted students may spend up a quarter to half the school day waiting for classmates to catch up, a situation that could promote boredom and inability to remain attentive.  Finally, a gifted student could be diagnosed properly as having ADHD, so please understand it is possible.   

Before referring a gifted child for ADHD, consider the situation and reflect on the characteristics exhibited by the child. Completing this checklist might great first step to gather information, determine whether the child is displaying “gifted” traits or ADHD signs, or both.

Wishing You Success,

Steve

References

Chae, P. K., Kim, J., & Noh, K. (2003). Diagnosis of ADHD among gifted children in relation to KEDI-WISC and T.O.V.A. performance. Gifted Child Quarterly, 47(3), 192-201.       doi:10.1177/001698620304700303

Cramond, B. (1994). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and creativity- What is the connection? The Journal of Creative Behavior, 25.

Dabrowski, K. (1964). Positive disintegration. Boston: Little, Brown, & Company.

Hartnett, D. N., Nelson, J. M., & Rinn, A. N. (2003). Gifted or ADHD? The Possibilities of Misdiagnosis. Roeper Review, 26(2), 73-76.

Orendorff, K. A. (2009). The Relationship between ADHD and Giftedness. Online Submission.

Rinn, A. N., & Reynolds, M. J. (2012). Overexcitabilities and ADHD in the Gifted: An Examination. Roeper Review, 34(1), 38. doi:10.1080/02783193

Shi, J., Tao, T., Chen, W., Cheng, L., Wang, L., & Zhang, X. (2013). Sustained Attention in Intellectually Gifted Children Assessed Using a Continuous Performance Test. Plos                      ONE, 8(2), 1-8. doi:1

Webb, J. T., & Latimer, D. (1993). ADHD and children who are gifted. Reston, VA: Council for Exceptional Children. ERIC Digests E522, EDO-FD-93-50.1371/journal.pone.0057417