English

ERIC ED448382: Mis-Diagnosis and Dual Diagnosis of Gifted Children: Gifted and LD, ADHD, OCD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

Many gifted and talented children are often misdiagnosed by psychologists and other health professionals as having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Disorder (OD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), or another of the mood disorders. The misdiagnosis can stem from mistaken assumptions being made about the social and emotional characteristics of gifted children. Gifted children are at psychological risk due to other internal characteristics and situational factors. These factors can lead to interpersonal and psychological difficulty that turn into a misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment. The most universal internal factor is the intense nature of most gifted children. This intensity can generate anxiety and depression, and create challenges for those who care for them. Situational problems that gifted children find themselves in at school can lead to boredom, especially where there is a lack of appropriate differentiated education. It is essential for professionals to gain an understanding of gifted, talented children so that they no longer conclude that certain inherent characteristics of giftedness represent pathology. (Contains 10 references.) (JDM)

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