Gifted children are often misdiagnosed due to their complex emotional and cognitive needs. Gifted children often need more emotional support and guidance in order to reach their potential and too often the challenging behaviors they display when not adequately challenged or supported can be mischaracterized.
As a result, they are often diagnosed with a variety of mental health conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, or depression. In addition to ADHD and other mental health concerns, gifted children are also often misdiagnosed with learning disabilities such as dyslexia or autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Misdiagnosis can lead to incorrect treatment plans and medications, both of which can be counterproductive to gifted children in a number of ways. In addition, it can impair their motivation and self-esteem.
Research indicates that when gifted children are accurately assessed and supported in an appropriate learning setting, they can be highly successful. Therefore, it is important to ensure that formal assessments of gifted children are conducted and that follow-up support is provided where necessary.
Table of Contents
What are some common problems faced by gifted learners?
Gifted learners often face unique challenges because their peers and educators may not understand their needs. Common problems faced by gifted learners include:
1. Social and Emotional Issues. Gifted learners may struggle to fit in due to their advanced abilities, which can lead to feelings of loneliness, fascination with abstract concepts, and difficulty forming close friendships.
They may also struggle due to their intense focus on particular interests, lack of discipline in study, self-doubt, perfectionism, and difficultly managing complex emotions.
2. Boredom. Gifted learners may become bored in the classroom due to their advanced understanding of material. This can lead to negative behaviors, inattention, and a lack of motivation in the classroom.
3. Underachievement. Gifted learners may become disinterested in school and academic tasks, leading to lower-than-expected academic performance. This can be due to their boredom with the material, lack of challenge in the classroom, or perceived lack of relevance in the material.
4. Anxiety. Gifted learners may become overwhelmed by their complex thought process, requiring them to expend a large amount of emotional energy to arrive at answers. This can lead to difficulty completing tasks, avoiding tasks, and burnout.
5. Perfectionism. Gifted learners in particular may struggle with perfectionism, putting in unreasonable amounts of effort in order to achieve perfection. This can increase their stress levels, have a negative impact on their academic performance, and increase the time required to complete tasks.
What is the diagnostic criteria for gifted?
The diagnostic criteria for giftedness varies to some degree across different standardized tests and assessment tools. In general, however, giftedness is defined as a set of exceptional intellectual or creative abilities, as well as advanced problem-solving and thought processes, that are significantly higher than what is typical for the same age group.
To determine if a child is gifted, a variety of assessments typically measure the child’s cognitive abilities, creativity and higher order thinking skills. These may include intelligence or aptitude tests, achievement tests, and creativity tests.
Contemporary assessments may also measure emotional, social, and intrapersonal talents.
In addition, some giftedness assessment tools consider the child’s school performance, interests, and aptitude for learning, and may also involve discussions with the child’s family, school personnel, and other adults.
Gifted children may demonstrate advanced capabilities in specific areas such as math, creative writing, visual arts, foreign language, and music, or they may display strengths in multiple areas. In general, most assessment criterion define giftedness as scores on intelligence and/or achievement tests that are two standard deviations above the mean or higher.
How do you diagnose gifted?
Giftedness is usually determined through a multi-faceted approach that involves assessing a person’s overall aptitudes, academic performance, and behaviors. Different tests and assessments are used to identify traits and characteristics associated with giftedness.
These can include IQ tests, cognitive assessments, problem-solving assessments, and other individual assessments and evaluations. Additionally, giftedness can be identified by parental, teacher, or peer observations, school performance, leadership potential, and creativity.
It is important to note that giftedness can look different in each person and should be evaluated in various contexts to get a complete picture.
What are the 5 characteristics of giftedness?
The five characteristics of giftedness include advanced cognitive ability, high levels of creativity, heightened curiosity, exceptional academic capacity, and heightened leadership skills.
Advanced cognitive ability is the most well-known trait of giftedness and refers to an individual’s ability to think abstractly and reason out complex problems. This type of ability typically indicates a higher-than-average level of intelligence.
Creativity is a trait that often comes hand-in-hand with giftedness and gifted individuals are often able to see things from a unique perspective, as well as think outside of the box to come up with original solutions and ideas.
Gifted individuals often have a heightened curiosity. They have a deep desire to explore and understand the world around them, meaning they are constantly asking questions and seeking new experiences.
Exceptional academic capacity is another sign of giftedness, as gifted individuals frequently demonstrate an ability to learn at a more advanced level and more quickly than the average person.
Lastly, heightened leadership skills is something often seen in those classified as gifted. Gifted individuals often possess a high level of confidence and poise when it comes to taking charge and leading directions.
They view themselves as rising to the challenge and are not afraid to try something new.
Is giftedness in the DSM 5?
No, giftedness is not a disorder or condition included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The DSM-5 is a manual used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental health disorders.
Giftedness is generally considered an asset or an academic ability or talent, not a mental health disorder or disability. People who are gifted may be an outlier or have advanced development in certain areas, but that asset does not need clinical intervention or treatment.
Therefore, it is not included in the DSM-5.
What score indicates that a child is gifted?
The scores that indicate a child is gifted can differ depending on the specific assessment measure used to evaluate the child’s abilities. Generally, scores above the 90th percentile in an intelligence or cognitive assessment test may indicate giftedness.
For example, on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V), a score of 130 or higher would be considered gifted. Additionally, scores in the 95th percentile or higher on the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-III) may indicate giftedness.
It is important to note that a gifted score on an intellectual test does not necessarily mean the child is gifted in a specific academic area such as math, reading, or writing. For this, subject-specific tests may be used, and these tests may indicate that a child is performing in the gifted range.
Ultimately, it is up to a qualified expert to determine if a child is considered gifted.
Can gifted be misdiagnosed as ADHD?
Yes, gifted students can potentially be misdiagnosed as having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Studies have found that, due to the wide range of behaviors and learning needs associated with giftedness, it is often difficult to differentiate between giftedness and ADHD.
The symptoms of giftedness, such as an intense focus, distractibility, and difficulty completing tasks, are often misinterpreted for those of ADHD. Additionally, many assessments for determining giftedness employ similar criteria as assessments for ADHD, making it more difficult to accurately differentiate between the two.
It is important to note that the primary difference between giftedness and ADHD is that gifted children are capable of engaging in deep thought and are highly cognitively capable, whereas children with ADHD often have difficulty focusing and demonstrate impaired cognitive functioning.
As such, the misdiagnosis of ADHD in a gifted student can limit their educational opportunities and lead to an inappropriate course of treatment. To help ensure that a student is accurately identified and assessed, it is recommended to seek out professionals or clinicians with special expertise in the areas of both giftedness and ADHD.
Is giftedness a form of Neurodivergence?
Yes, giftedness can be a form of neurodivergence. Neurodivergence is a general term used to describe conditions that cause individuals to think, learn, and process information differently than people without such conditions.
Giftedness is a specific type of neurodivergence, in which a person has a superior ability to think and reason in specific areas. Gifted people often have a high IQ and can think quickly and creatively.
They may also be more sensitive to their environment and stimuli, and may have difficulty with socializing or maintaining close relationships. Giftedness is not the only form of neurodivergence, as there are other conditions such as autism and ADHD, which can also affect how an individual processes the world and interacts with it.
Is giftedness a mental disorder?
No, giftedness is not considered a mental disorder. Giftedness is defined as an intellectual ability that is significantly higher than average, as measured by IQ tests or other types of assessments. People who are gifted have strong academic, creative, and/or leadership capabilities.
Gifted individuals usually have a desire to learn and possess advanced problem-solving skills.
Physical, mental, and/or behavioral issues can be linked to intellectual giftedness, but they do not define or define it as a mental disorder. Gifted children often face challenges such as poor social skills, anxiety, stress, and frustration, which can lead to problems in home, social, and academic environments.
For example, they may be unable to focus and become easily frustrated in environments where their needs are not being addressed.
Therefore, giftedness does not necessarily equate to mental disorders. Rather, it is a unique trait that can be both a blessing and a challenge and should be nurtured and supported.
Is gifted a medical condition?
No, giftedness is not a medical condition. Giftedness is defined as a set of characteristics that represent an exceptional level of ability in a certain area, such as intelligence, creativity, or athletic ability.
It is not a medical disorder, nor is it an official diagnosis. Individuals who are deemed gifted are typically highly motivated and successful learners who can think and reason at very advanced levels.
The primary characteristics of giftedness include superior intellectual abilities, leadership ability, creative abilities, and/or superior academic abilities. Depending on the individual, these abilities may range from being able to solve complex problems, think in abstract ways, or simply remember large amounts of information.
While giftedness does not generally require medical treatment, it can come with its own unique set of challenges, like social and emotional issues.
Can giftedness be mistaken for autism?
Giftedness and autism share some similarities but they are two distinct diagnoses. While gifted individuals may display some characteristics that may be similar to autism, they are not the same condition.
Giftedness tends to be associated with advanced cognitive abilities, while autism is a neurological disorder that affects communication, behavior, and social interaction.
Gifted individuals may have special interests and have difficulty with impulsivity, similar to those diagnosed with autism, however the primary distinction between giftedness and autism is the individual’s understanding and use of language.
Gifted individuals typically have the ability to communicate with adults and peers on a variety of topics, while individuals with autism may have difficulty with communication and may have special interests that seem to have an excessive focus.
Additionally, individuals who are considered to be gifted typically thrive in classroom settings, while those with autism may require intervention or accommodations to help them to be successful in a traditional classroom.
Overall, it is important to recognize that giftedness and autism are distinct diagnoses and should not be mistaken for one another. It is possible to have both conditions, but the distinction should be acknowledged and appropriate supports provided to ensure the individual’s needs are being met.
How can you tell the difference between giftedness and autism?
Giftedness and autism can be difficult to differentiate due to their similarities, as they both involve exceptional abilities, procative thought patterns and difficulties with social interaction. However, there are fundamental differences between giftedness and autism.
Giftedness typically involves high performance in certain areas, such as academics, the arts, or music, with the ability to think conceptually and master new materials quickly. Gifted individuals often possess an advanced ability to think critically, quickly process abstract ideas and display enthusiasm for learning.
Additionally, individuals with giftedness are often socially savvy, with a skill for empathy, able to follow social norms and recognize facial expressions and emotions. In contrast, autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects an individual’s ability to communicate, interact socially, and relate to the world around them.
Autistic individuals often struggle with social communication, have difficulties in processing language and are rigid with their daily routines. In addition, they may demonstrate difficulty in recognizing the emotions of others, and they may be extremely sensitive to loud noises or sudden changes.
Although both giftedness and autism may appear very similar in some ways, there are subtle differences between the two that make it easy to differentiate one from the other.
What can be misdiagnosed as autism?
These include intellectual disability, developmental disabilities, genetic disorders, language delay, hearing loss, sensory processing disorders, seizure disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders.
Intellectual disability, also known as mental retardation, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects intellectual and adaptive functioning. Children with intellectual disability have difficulty with communication, social skills, self-care, work and leisure activities, self-direction, and other areas of learning.
Developmental disabilities include a variety of conditions that cause delays or difficulty in physical and mental development such as cerebral palsy, auditory processing disorder, and motor impairment.
Genetic disorders can be caused by any number of gene mutations that can result in autism-like symptoms. Common examples include Fragile X syndrome and Rett syndrome, both of which are caused by a genetic mutation on the X chromosome.
Language delay is a cognitive disorder in which a person develops language skills later than expected. This condition can be misdiagnosed as autism because of the individual’s difficulty in understanding and expressing language.
Hearing loss can cause difficulty in understanding language, resulting in problems with communication, which can be misdiagnosed as autism.
Sensory processing disorders are neurological conditions that affect the ability to process information from the senses. Individuals who struggle to process information from their senses may demonstrate behaviors that can be misdiagnosed as autism.
Seizure disorders, such as epilepsy, can cause symptoms similar to those of autism such as repetitive body movements, difficulty with communication, and social withdrawal.
Mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, can cause behaviors that look like autism, including difficulty with communication, social skills, and social withdrawal.
Anxiety disorders can cause extreme shyness, withdrawal, and behavior that is often misinterpreted as autism.
It is important to diagnose any of these conditions correctly to ensure that a child receives the appropriate treatment.
What can mimic high functioning autism?
Other medical conditions and mental health issues can mimic the symptoms of autism or high functioning autism. Asperger’s Disorder is a high-functioning form of autism spectrum disorder and is often misdiagnosed as an attention disorder such as ADHD or as a learning disability, such as dyslexia.
Other conditions can include Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), social anxiety disorder, depression, and even sleeping disorders. Additionally, some medical conditions can cause physical responses or sensory issues that can be similar to those experienced by individuals with autism.
These conditions include seizures, thyroid problems, hearing impairments, and vision problems. Many of these conditions share overlapping symptoms, so it is important to seek a comprehensive evaluation from a professional to receive an accurate diagnosis.
