Between 1990 and 1998, more than 5 million children and adults were diagnosed with ADHD. Of those 5 million, some are likely to be gifted children who were misdiagnosed.

Writer Suki Wessling addressed the misdiagnosis of gifted children in a Jan 21 article on examiner.com:

Many parents of gifted children are familiar with Dabrowskis theory of overexcitability in gifted people. However, teachers, therapists and family doctors are unlikely to have any knowledge or practical training in this area &

"Gifted children, many of who are also asynchronous (developing at different rates in different areas) encounter difficulties conforming to expectations, have behavior problems due to boredom, or otherwise struggle in a school setting," explains [Mike] Gustavson. ...

It's to clear to those who work with the gifted, however, that many of the physicians and mental health professionals prescribing ADHD drugs are probably dealing with, and not recognizing, gifted children.

"One of the things that I'm working with them on this is to try to educate pediatricians and family practitioners and nurse practitioners as well as psychologists," says [author James T. Webb, founder of Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted]. "Other than Wright State University, there just aren't graduate programs that specialize in training psychologists about the gifted."

Labels: misdiagnosis, gifted children

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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 0 Comments