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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Educators, Parents Address ADHD Misdiagnoses Among Gifted Students

Some educators and parents in the U.S. express concern over the number of gifted kids who are misdiagnosed with ADHD or other behavioral disorders. Some South African educators are beginning to express similar concerns.

Aconcerned group of Western Cape educators, with the help of the National Association for Gifted and Talented Children in South Africa (NAGTCSA), is planning to conduct a forum for school principals later this year. It is aimed at opening discussion on ways to nurture and meet the needs of gifted children in schools.[Source: Times Live (South Africa)]

A gifted child who is bored in class may exhibit some of the same “symptoms” as a child who has ADHD. A Johannesburg school for gifted students says that over half its students were initially misdiagnosed with ADHD.

Labels: schools, gifted children, diagnosis

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton

Comments:

Damian Taylor on 9/3/2010
I had many doctors tell me that my son didn't have a serious case of ADHD, but I believed that something wasn't just right with my son's behavior. He was getting picked on at school because of this, and it caused him to become depressed. I heard my friend tell me about a school. I looked up the school, and I enrolled my son and till this day I believe thatwest ridge academy helped ADHD in a way my son could feel like another kid.
Kensington on 8/30/2010
I have heard this from a couple of people before. A kid who is gifted and has mastered a lot of what is still being taught in class can get bored. It's a shame for them to be mis-diagnosed like this.