The “Problem” Gifted Child
Do NOT have your child labeled as emotionally disturbed before having appropriate testing done!
Gifted children, especially those who are not challenged, are frequently misdiagnosed as having ADHD or similar conduct disorders because they are often disruptive at school. One tell tale sign is when the child has no problems outside of school. A child with ADHD or any other disturbance will exhibit the problem behaviors consistently in a variety of settings, not just in one setting. Moreover, research has shown that gifted children are more at risk for adjustment problems than their non-gifted peers. The hypothesis is that the gifted are prone to interpersonal conflicts and experience greater degrees of alienation and stress as a result of their deep sensitivities and cognitive capacities.
Gifted kids often connect with adults intellectually and expect to be treated with respect, like an adult. Sadly, it’s often the teacher who is the one person in the classroom that a highly gifted child feels affiliated with. The other kids in the class usually have no idea what the gifted child is talking about, don’t get their jokes, don’t have the same concerns and interests, etc. The teacher, on the other hand, is a better companion for the gifted child in most instances.
Don’t be surprised — or alarmed — if your child needs counseling or mentoring at some point. It doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong. Many gifted children benefit from counseling, which usually focuses on helping the child understand and deal with his or her gift. These kids often feel alone and isolated. They feel different. Lots of people say that we shouldn’t tell gifted kids that they are gifted because it will make them feel different, but the truth is that they already feel different and unless they understand why, they can interpret that as something negative.
To illustrate, did you know?…
- Einstein was four years old before he could speak and seven before he could read.
- Isaac Newton did poorly in grade school.
- When Thomas Edison was a boy, his teachers told him he was too stupid to learn anything.
- F.W.Woolworth got a job in a dry goods store when he was 21. But his employers would not let him wait on a customer because “Didn’t have enough sense.”
- A newspaper editor fired Walt Disney because he had “No good ideas”
- Caruso’s music teacher told him “You can’t sing, you have no voice at all.”
- Leo Tolstoy flunked out of college.
- Verner Von Braun flunked 9th grade algebra.
- Admiral Richard E. Byrd had been retired from the navy, as, “Unfit for service” Until he flew over both poles.
- Louis Pasteur was rated as mediocre in chemistry when he attended the Royal College
- Abraham Lincoln entered The Black Hawk War as a captain and came out a private
- Fred Waring was once rejected from high school chorus.
- Winston Churchill failed the sixth grade.
Find a Qualified Evaluator!
Accuracy is key. When it comes to testing a “problematic” but bright student, it is crucial to find a qualified evaluator: someone with a deep understanding of and experience with gifted children. Some factors that are often underestimated when it comes to testing these students are: appropriate test administration, knowledge of twice exceptionality and/or overlapping disorders, and the importance of establishing an adequate rapport with the student.
Test Administration. Because an experienced evaluator will be better at gauging starting points for that student (more difficult items), it can reduce chances of the child getting bored and tired. Often, by the time a bright student gets to the harder questions, but questions that he or she could still answer, they are already bored and disengaged. They won’t or can’t concentrate and may also get fidgety. In any case, the results will not be accurate. If your child tested at 127 under less than ideal circumstances, there’s a good chance that his real abilities are higher.
Twice Exceptionality. Psychologists with experience working with gifted kids are also better at discerning co-existing or overlapping problems. They know how these kids often have ADHD or other disorders that overlap each other such as anxiety, high functioning autism, sensory processing disorder, mood disorders, just to mention a few.
Establishing a good rapport. If a student feels intimidated or anxious during an assessment, scores could be affected. Using ice breakers and taking some time to chat with the student, while offering reassurance and encouragement throughout testing is often underestimated. When a student is relaxed and feels comfortable with the person administering the test, scores will undoubtedly will be higher. Of course, at-home testing has been shown to significantly reduce testing anxiety. For more information on having an IQ test done at home with us, call us at (813) 468-6528. We are happy to answer all your questions.
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