Interestingly, the behavioral attributes of a child who possesses Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the gifted child are very similar. A gifted and ADHD child have trouble sitting still, can be hard to keep amused, may be extremely active and typically have emotional outbursts. It is no wonder that some children are misdiagnosed with having one condition when they have the other. Further confusing is the fact that kids can have both at the same time.
ADHD Definition and Historical Factors
While much remains a mystery about this mental disorder, new evidence suggests that it derives from the inability of the individual to effectively metabolize dopamine and norepinephrine. In children the disorder is characterized by inattentiveness, impulsiveness and restlessness, though not all of these symptoms need to be present in order for the condition to be in existence.
Because the identification of this condition is relatively new, many adults are afflicted with the disorder and have been since childhood. Adult symptoms are similar to what is now seen in children. These adults have a marked inability to efficiently structure daily life and activities, thus creating stress, work flow problems and erratic performance of activities of daily living.
In severe cases, the condition can result in high anxiety, need for counseling and therapeutic services and mental breakdowns. As early as 1902, English pediatrician George Still is credited with identifying the precursor to what is now known as ADHD. Today, this condition is thought to afflict more than five percent of children.
Common Misdiagnosis in Gifted Children
At times, misdiagnosis occurs when gifted children, who tend to be more challenging to raise and who exhibit similar behaviors to the ADHD-afflicted child. The behaviors are occurring for different reasons and causes, however. A child who is labeled as ADHD needs to be tested to ensure that he is not gifted as well or instead of being ADHD.
It is possible for a child to be both gifted and legitimately labeled with ADHD. The sooner the correct diagnosis can be made, the more advantageous for the child, so that she can benefit from treatment, medication if needed, counseling or other appropriate intervention strategies.
Differences in Gifted and Non-Gifted Children With ADHD
It is thought that high ability sometimes masks ADHD. Interestingly, children with giftedness and ADHD are more severely affected than non-gifted children. This may be the result of a "masking" of less severe ADHD in some gifted children and not a true difference between these groups. Some gifted children may hide the less obvious ADHD symptoms, behind similar behavioral challenges characteristic of a gifted child.
Suffice it to say that much has been written on the value or lackthereof for medication for the ADHD condition. Overmedication has been a concern in the past and continues to spawn debate. How an individual child responds to treatment for ADHD to alleviate any debilitating symptoms should guide the informed parent. Since it is widely believed that the condition is metabolic, it stands to reason that a substance administered to correct an imbalance would represent an appropriate remedy.
One of the hallmarks of the ADHD child is a lag in social and emotional development. Non-ADHD gifted children, on the contrary, tend to be significantly ahead of the general population in these areas. Therefore, it is important to provide appropriate intervention for the gifted child with the disorder, who would not likely do well in an acceleration program, based on the social lag issue.
It is important to point out that while ADHD and gifted students have complex needs, the child with both of these issues has needs that will differ significantly from both of the aforementioned groups. As well, early diagnosis and mapping out a treatment plan, educational curriculum and associated resources becomes even more imperative to the child's ongoing development and well-being.
See also the article Emotional_Health_and_the_Gifted_Child.
Reference:
Neihart, Maureen. Giftedness in Children With ADHD. ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education (ERIC EC) The Council for Exceptional Children,1110 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA 22201-5704, 2005.
Therese Haberman - With a MS degree and 25 years in HR mgmt, in 2005, Ms.Therese began a writing career specializing in children and HR.
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