Hello all. I am very new to this board and have found you only after coming home from our first visit with a private counselor. In a nutshell, our 14 year old, an 8th grader, has been identified (both at the elementary and middle school level) as being gifted in 3 subjects but is completely organizationally impaired. The counselor quickly identified her, based on our answers to her questions, as having inattention ADD. She easily met all 6 criteria in the DSM IV-R. No sign of hyperactivity or impulsivity. Our daughter easily gets A’s on almost all her tests (with little to no studying) yet the counselor wants her tested for learning disabilities. She is to meet with the counselor next week.
The counselor recommended an appt with a psychiatrist for a 2nd opinion and medication. We are not questioning the impulsivity ADD diagnosis at all but do need to do a lot of homework before jumping into meds.
Where should I go to get information about gifted ADD kids?
Thanks in advance!
RE
Thanks for the reply. The red flag was raised because she has a history of “shooting herself in the foot” by completing homework but not turning it in. We always felt she was capable of being an honor roll student but she never has been because of the homework grades. We coudn’t understand why a child would work so hard but not make an effort to get credit for her work. Her response of just forgetting to bring it to class or just forgetting to turn it in didn’t make sense to us. Now that we understand, we have come up with ways to help her rather than punish her.
As a side note, she feels a great sense of relief that she can put a name to what is going on with her. Once we get over the guilt of riding her so hard all these years, I’m sure we will feel the same way.
Re: ADD and a gifted child?
It is wonderful that your daughter has so many years of school still ahead of her, and you will be supporting her struggles. I was in the same boat as your daughter. Gifted, but painfully unorganized. I am in my 40’s, and so angry at the shame my parents put in me all my years at home. I majored in accounting in college because I was told to - the worst possible major for me. Now I have a masters in a subject I do not have any interest in.
Anyway, help her find the answers, and help her structure her life. That is what she probably needs the most. Don’t be afraid to let her try meds if she wants to. I wish I had had the opportunity. Be careful if you have a good system working for her, and then she goes to college on her own. She’ll need some coaching and structure there as well. Help her pick a major where her interests lie. It is much easier to organize something you care about if you are adhd inattentive.
Also, encourage her to find friends who support her. Help her loose the shame. It is not her fault. There is a reason for everything. We all have our strengths and weaknesses! :)
try hoagies gifted site and look into twice exceptional
Why was a red flag raised for a child doing so well??