Could your "Problem" Child be Gifted?

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A 10 yr old boy is a constant problem for his math teacher. He talks in class and clowns around. He refuses to turn in homework. He openly questions her policies and rules. He refuses to "let things go" when she ends a discussion. He constantly twitches in his seat, twirls his pencil and bounces his leg. She wishes he were anywhere but her classroom. Is this problem child ADHD? No, he highly gifted. What I neglected to tell you is that although his text books still crackle when you open it, he is a constant disruption in class and he never turns in his homework, he makes 100% on every test. Ho do I know? I know this gifted person. He dropped out of high school at 16 because he was frustrated and depressed-convinced he was stupid. He was diagnosed with ADHD but never as gifted. A gifted child who is bored will be especially prone to disruptive behavior and he or she may make poor grades and be an underachiever if not challenged. These children do not fit most peoples idea of gifted and are often mis identified as such. Because they share many behaviors in commone with children who have ADHD, they are commonly misdiagnosed. What a tragedy to deprive ourselves of this natural resource and mistakenly drug our brightest children into compliance with the "norms." But be aware that a child can be gifted and have ADHD.