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Misdiagnosis and Medication Psychiatric misdiagnosis and consequent unnecessary or even destructive medication for "troubling" symptoms is an issue that impacts many gifted and talented people. In her article My Adventures in Psychopharmacology, Gogo Lidz writes, "Between the ages of 16 and 21, I was prescribed more than fifteen different stimulants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers. The cure was worse than the disease... a small galaxy of ADD drugs: Metadate, Dextrostat, Dexedrine Spansules, Adderall, Adderall XR.." Now she is back in college and has been free of manic feelings and suicidal thoughts. Continued on High Ability - including video clip         ~ ~ ~ ~ Actor Michelle Rodriguez suffers from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and tells Cosmopolitan magazine, "I want to write and direct, but it's not easy with Add. I have a hard time focusing when I'm alone. I'm a scatterbrain, but I'm nervous of taking medication. I don't really want to depend on anything to control my brain." [imdb.com 20 Jun 2006]     > photo: as Ana-Lucia Cortez in tv series “Lost”         ~ ~ ~ ~   People whose attention falls well below normal may be diagnosed with an attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and the most common treatment for this problem is with pharmaceuticals. The popularity of Ritalin and similar drugs has increased dramatically in recent years, and the United States manufactures and consumes five times more of such drugs than the rest of the world combined. The many detrimental side effects of ADHD drugs are deemed a small price to pay for suppressing the symptoms of attention disorders. This materialistic approach to treating ADHD is enormously profitable for the drug manufacturers, but it is profoundly disempowering for the individuals who become reliant on them. While our culture may proclaim “Just say no to drugs,” when it comes to treating attention disorders, the message is “Go for the quick fix.” This is not to say that pharmaceuticals cannot be helpful in treating ADHD. They certainly can, as millions have discovered through their own experience. They may be essential at times, especially to combat severe symptoms. But they don’t cure anything. They merely suppress symptoms while generating harmful side effects, and even if you don’t become addicted, you may develop a psychic dependence on them—perhaps for life. Thus, in clinical cases, drugs can play an important role within the context of a wider set of interventions. But the sooner we can get children, adolescents, and adults off their drug dependence and provide them with methods for maintaining attentional balance on their own, the better it will be. > from book: The Attention Revolution : Unlocking the Power of the Focused Mind by B. Alan Wallace, PhD > related page: meditation     ~ ~ ~ ~   Oscar winner Charlize Theron finds acting a struggle, because she suffers from chronic Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). The South African actress claims the condition -- the symptoms of which include distractibility, restlessness, inability to sit still and difficulty concentrating on one thing for any period of time -- makes it much harder for her to concentrate on a movie project. She tells gossip site The Scoop, "I have ADD, so for me to go and really dedicate myself to something for a period of time, it's very important for me to like it." Daily Dish sfgate.com, Wednesday, January 5, 2005 ~ ~ ~ ~ The creative genius of children diagnosed with AD/HD will show itself in athletics, the performing and visual arts, and in entrepreneurial endeavors. Many of my AD/HD adolescent clients are sports champions or team captains at the high school level. As performers or musicians they tend to be creative and innovative composers, and charismatic on stage. > From the book : Genius! Nurturing The Spirit Of The Wild Odd And Oppositional Child - by George T. Lynn and Joanne Barrie Lynn - a premise of the book is that the genius - the “guiding spirit” - of neurologically different / attention different children is necessary for the advancement of culture. ~ ~ ~ ~ Indicators of adult ADHD A self-test developed by the World Health Organization can help identify behavior consistent with adult ADHD. Four or more choices of Sometimes, Often or Very Often indicate the potential benefit of an in-depth evaluation with a health care provider. In the last six months [answer Never; Rarely; Sometimes; Often; Very often] : 1. How often do you have trouble wrapping up the final details of a project once the challenging parts have been done? 2. How often do you have difficulty getting things in order when you have to do a task that requires organization? 3. How often do you have problems remembering appointments or obligations? 4. When you have a task that requires a lot of thought, how often do you avoid or delay getting started? 5. How often do you fidget or squirm with your hands or feet when you have to sit down for a long time? 6. How often do you feel overly active and compelled to do things, like you were driven by a motor? > from article Most kids don't outgrow ADHD - by Valerie Ulene, LA Times August 1, 2005 ~ ~ ~ ~

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Gifted children with AD/HD may also differ from more average children in the greater degree of asynchrony (differences in degree of development across cognitive, social and emotional areas compared to age and IQ) they show. They may behave less maturely than average peers some of the time, but more maturely at other times, for example, making airplane noises in school at age 7 and 8, but on the other hand, having advanced ideas about how to play complex games. They also can be far more emotional than age peers with AD/HD. Sensitivity is an important aspect of giftedness, and gifted children with AD/HD show their sensitivity in awareness of the external environment, internal states and feelings, projective identification with aspects of their field of interest, in empathy and compassion for others and in passionate feelings for people and causes.

When feelings are negative, gifted children with AD/HD can become overwhelmed by worries that would never occur to the more average child. Gifted children with AD/HD often have more specialized interests than age peers, and perform similar activities in more complex ways. Gifted children with AD/HD need and like more complexity than age peers, and seek it out in activities and interests. Interests may be pursued over a number of years and to an intense degree. > excerpt from article Gifted children with AD/HD - by Deirdre V. Lovecky, Ph.D., director of The Gifted Resource Center of New England [site] > photo from her book Different Minds: Gifted Children With AD/HD, Asperger Syndrome, and other Learning Deficits

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from article ADD Grows Up [CBS News] "A lot of adults have this condition. And most of them don't know they have it," says author and psychiatrist Dr. Edward Hallowell, who says that millions of Americans, including himself, actually have a medical condition. "Most people haven’t known about it, but it’s been around for as long as there have been people," says Hallowell. "If you look at the core symptoms of ADD -- distractibility, impulsivity, restlessness -- goes back for thousands of years." Until recently, these symptoms were considered to be annoying personality quirks, like chronic lateness. But now, the condition has a name - Adult ADD - and a pill to treat it. "It can be as effective as eyeglasses. It can really improve mental focus," says Hallowell. "Someone goes from tremendous underachievement to reclaiming their life. Not only professionally, but personally. "Marriages are saved. Families are saved. Careers are saved.... [But] the difficult differential diagnosis is how do you tell a case of ADD from a severe case of modern life." ///

But some ADD sufferers say medication isn’t always the answer. David Neeleman says he always knew his brain worked a little differently from the rest. "I scored so low on the English portion of the ACT test that my counselor hauled me in and said, 'David, had you just answered 'C' on every question, you would've done better. You would've done 30 percent better than what you did,'” says Neeleman. He spent years in various jobs, in a sort of limbo, before he realized he had a clear-cut case of ADD. Even so, he’s a huge success. He's CEO of Jet Blue, the low-cost, no-frills carrier that has shaken up the airline industry. Neeleman says many of his out-of-the-box ideas are thanks to his ADD. "In the midst of all the chaos in your mind, and all of the disorganization, and all the trouble getting started, and procrastination, your brain just thinks a little bit differently," he says. "And you can come up with things." > books : Flying High: How JetBlue Founder and CEO David Neeleman Beats the Competition... Even in the World's Most Turbulent Industry - by James Wynbrandt Delivered from Distraction : Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder - by Edward M. Hallowell, John J. Ratey also : ADDitude [magazine subscription]

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.. "Albert Einstein,  a poor student,  was distractible,  socially awkward  and messy, yet  infinitely creative."

BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH ADHD 1. Poorly sustained attention in almost all situations 2. Diminished persistence on tasks not having immediate consequences 3. Impulsivity, poor delay of gratification 4. Impaired adherence to commands to regulate or inhibit behavior in social contexts 5. More active, restless than normal children 6. Difficulty adhering to rules and regulations

BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH GIFTEDNESS 1. Poor attention, boredom, daydreaming in specific situations 2. Low tolerance for persistence on tasks that seem irrelevant 3. Judgment lags behind development of intellect 4. Intensity may lead to power struggles with authorities 5. High activity level; may need less sleep 6. Questions rules, customs and traditions from a tourettesyndrome site page

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The larger world does not connect ADD with giftedness at all. Occasionally they mention creativity. And ADD is now the current 'in' thing to be as an adult, as well. It was only little boys, then it got to be little girls, then grownups as well.  Very many creative people go around now announcing they are ADD. I could announce that I am, too. But I happen to know that I'm not; I'm just highly creative, and it does have a nasty tendency to make the little details of ordinary life a little more difficult.    Stephanie S. Tolan Tolan writes novels for children and young adults, is co-author of the book "Guiding the Gifted Child", writes about giftedness for Advanced Development Journal, is a contributing editor of Roeper Review, and a consultant about highly gifted children. Quotes from interview

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Study: ADHD kids usually have ADHD parents COLLEGE PARK, Md., Jan. 20 2004 (UPI - posted on washingtontimes.com) -- Maryland researchers say parents of a child with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder should be tested for the condition themselves. A recent study by University of Maryland researchers found parents of children who have ADHD are more than 20 times more likely to have ADHD than parents whose children do not. Further, if their children also have other serious behavioral problems, the parents' risk for such disorders, such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse, is as much as five times the norm. The study is summarized in the December issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. "It's critical to have parents performing at their best," Andrea Chronis, director of the ADHD program at the University of Maryland and the study's lead author, told the Washington Post, "so that the child can perform as well as possible. ... (But) if a child has ADHD and the parents do, too, you can imagine the difficulties." ADHD, which affects an estimated 3 percent to 7 percent of school-age children, often continues into adulthood.

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I have suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) all my life but was not diagnosed until twelve.  My life has had many ups and downs as a result of ADHD. ... When I was seventeen, my mother commented to my doctor that I should write a book on all my memorable and not so memorable achievements.  I dismissed this suggestion because I was embarrassed that I had a mental disorder/learning disability/handicap, behavioural problems etc.  Two years later with greater maturity and a better understanding of myself I decided that I would write a book. Not just any book, not another doctor's handbook full of medical jargon but a book written from a sufferer's perspective, to help those parents and children with this condition. Basically the TRUTH!!!  Benjamin Polis - from his site: ADD HelpGuide   ~ ~ ~ Why I did not want to write this book was that I was sick and tired of always being looked upon as that "crazy little child" who seemed to be a burden on everyone. My school life was hell, not just for me, but for my parents as well.

Not to mention the teachers who I challenged every day in the classroom. I hated the fact that I was different and at times even hated myself for who I was and what I was doing. When gathering my research material from the many schools where I was a student, I was embarrassed by a lot of the terrible things I had done. But at the time I did not know what I was doing. I was often confused, not understanding what I was doing. This caused a lot of depression in my early school days.  As I got older it became a lot easier to deal with my problem. I overcame it in a number of ways including medication and self-taught techniques... [from book Introduction] **Benjamin Polis. Attention Deficit Disorder:  Only a Mother Could Love Him

*related pages:......depression:: teen/young adult............mental health: teen/young adult

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Psychologist Dabrowski points out that psychomotor overexcitability is one of the pieces of giftedness... they have this incredible energy... bored out of their minds in school, and they're expected to follow straight lines from 'A' to 'B' to 'C', none of which they can handle, so it looks like pathology...

 from article: Are you ADD -- or just gifted?
 

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THE GREAT A.D.D. HOAX    by David Keirsey [excerpt]  The reason I speak of a hoax in the case of "attention deficit disorder" is that there is no such "mental disorder" to "diagnose" and "treat." And the reason I speak of a great hoax is that the less competent medical practitioners use this phony "diagnosis" as a warrant to "treat" millions of school children (over 5,000,000) per year by intoxicating them with brain-disabling narcotics.  And make no mistake about the power of Ritalin to disable and eventually shrink the brain. It differs little in its destructive effects from cocaine and the amphetamines, and is fast becoming the drug of choice among addicts in high schools and colleges.     related book: Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence by David Keirsey

> site :  Temperament Types and Attention Deficit Disorder     - includes pages: MBTI Temperament Types: An introduction into the Jungian temperament classification system, and a link to the Keirsey on-line temperament test. The DSM IV Diagnostic Criteria - A Closer Look. A comparison between the diagnostic criteria for ADD and temperament traits of certain MBTI types. Comparison of ENTP, ADD, and Creative Traits: I started comparing the traits of one of the MBTI temperament types (mine) to traits associated with ADD and the highly creative.

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"... thought to have been - or are currently - ADD and/or ADHD...

The following is a list of just a few of these very famous people who used
their high energy and creativity to become successful adults. What would
our world be like if they had been labeled, ridiculed, and discounted as
troublemakers or hyperactive misfits?

Einstein     Leonardo DaVinci    Socrates   Mozart   Beethoven   Thomas Edison
Alexander Graham Bell   Orville and Wilbur Wright   Steven Spielberg
Henry David Thoreau   Woodrow Wilson   Bill Cosby   Edgar Allen Poe
Nolan Ryan   John F. Kennedy   F. Scott Fitzgerald   Whoopi Goldberg
Ernest Hemingway   Dustin Hoffman   Abraham Lincoln   Galileo
William Randolph Hearst   George Bernard Shaw   Muhammad Anwar al-Sadat
Ann Bancroft   Magic Johnson   John Lennon   Nostradamus
John D. Rockefeller   Michael Jordan   Pete Rose   Bruce Jenner
Napoleon   General George Patton   Pablo Picasso   Babe Ruth
Harry Belafonte   George Burns   Andrew Carnegie Salvador Dali
Dwight D. Eisenhower   William Butler Yeats   Prince Charles
Louis Carroll Eleanor Roosevelt   Louis Pasteur

from article: 26 Positive Things about ADD and 46 Famous People With ADD - by Katherine West

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....articles:

26 Positive Things about ADD and 46 Famous People With ADD - by Katherine West

ADD Grows Up [CBS News]

ADD Stimulant Medications: Are They the Best ADD Treatments? - by Tess Thompson / Native Remedies
Although there is controversy surrounding them, stimulants are still the most commonly prescribed type of medication for ADD and ADHD, and are often effective in treating many of the symptoms -- but are they the best ADD treatment? Many parents are concerned about the side effects stimulants can produce and choose to investigate other options like behavioral therapy and herbal supplements.

ADHD and Diet: Is There a Link Between Sugar and Hyperactivity, and Is There Really an Effective Diet for ADHD? - by Tess Thompson / Native Remedies
While there is not overwhelming conclusive evidence that any particular food will cause or prevent hyperactivity, a well-balanced diet that is rich in a variety of brain-healthy foods will benefit anyone... There is also various research, including a study done by Oxford University, which suggests that including Omega-3 fatty acids in hyperactive children's diets will moderate their ADHD symptoms.

ADHD Natural Remedies: Finding the Best Herbs for Hyperactivity - by Tess Thompson / Native Remedies
Deciding how best to medicate for ADHD is not an easy task. Along with the increased prescription of stimulant drugs has come a heightened awareness of the risks these medications can pose, and more and more people are searching for natural alternatives such as homeopathic remedies for ADHD before turning to stimulant drugs.

Are ADD and ADHD Mistaken Interpretations of Skills? - by Jack Elias
A belief in a poor concept or poor interpretation of circumstances, or of yourself, can cause you to think you are disabled. The ADHD diagnosis may be an unhelpful interpretation of the person's behavior that blocks the appreciation of helpful possibilities. Here is a procedure that can help such a person connect with abilities they may be under-utilizing.

Are you ADD -- or just gifted?
Excerpt of interview with Stephanie S. Tolan, and excerpt from "ADHD and Children Who Are Gifted", ERIC Digest #522

Born To Explore! The Other Side of ADD  by Teresa Gallagher
"A strong, life-long feeling that one thinks very differently than everyone else, not necessarily worse, but different.... very often the Explorer grows to embrace this difference, especially those Explorers who seem most satisfied with their lives."

Diagnosing ADHD in Adults - by Tess Thompson / Native Remedies
It is estimated that 12 to 15 million American adults suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. But because child ADHD treatment and symptoms can differ slightly from adult ADHD and treatment, and because research into adult ADHD is still in its early stages, many adults do not know how to evaluate whether they are suffering from the disorder.

Hyperactivity, grown up - by Judy Foreman
Sophie Currier is a busy woman. There's all the family stuff at the home she shares with her partner and their 7-month-old son. There's work — a teaching assistantship for a biochemistry course at Harvard University. And there's school. After majoring in biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Currier got a doctorate in neuroscience from Harvard and is on track to earn her medical degree a year from now. The striking thing is that Currier does all this not only with severe dyslexia — she couldn't read until she was 8 — but with ADHD as well.

Managing the ADHD Adult – By Nancy Snell
There are millïons of ADHD adults in the workforce. Learn to make the most of their talents. Experts estimate that between 8 million and 10 million adults suffer from ADHD, and two-thirds of children with ADHD will continue to have ADHD as adults. When ADHD shows up in the workplace (usually it’s undiagnosed), there are potentially severe consequences -- lost productivity, disruptions, mistakes. With professional help and careful supervision, the ADHD adult can continue to function productively, and maybe even thrive.

My Adventures in Psychopharmacology - By Gogo Lidz
Between the ages of 16 and 21, I was prescribed more than fifteen different stimulants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers. The cure was worse than the disease.

Natural ADD Supplements: What are the Best Natural Remedies for ADD? - by Tess Thompson / Native Remedies
The medical and behavioral side effects of ADD medications such as Ritalin and Adderall have many parents searching for natural alternatives for their children. While traditional medications can be effective, the risks are many, and reactions differ from child to child.

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Also see: Marie Friedel - interview by Douglas Eby
Marie Friedel is Founder and Executive Director, National Foundation for Gifted and Creative Children. "The drugging of gifted children and putting negative labels on creatively gifted children is a major issue," she says.

  

...sites:.

2e Newsletter - "Twice exceptional. It refers to children who are both gifted and have learning or attention difficulties....
The newsletter features: Articles on giftedness, learning differences, and the combination of the two..."

Adult attention-deficit disorder [Wikipedia page.]

ADDResource.com  search engine and directory for Attention Deficit Disorders

ADDvance Magazine - Answers to Your Questions about ADD (ADHD)

Born To Explore! The Other Side of ADD   "Positive and alternative information about attention deficit disorder, including creativity, giftedness, temperament diversity, allergies and nutrition."

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Omega oils and ADD "Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation or fatty fish consumption is tied to enhanced cognitive performance and speed, and diets high in cholesterol and saturated fat impair memory and cognitive flexibility." Kalmijn S, et al., University Medical Center Utrecht, Netherlands - reported in Neurology, January 2004 Getting a proper balance of Omega3 and Omega6 EFA's has been shown to: * Help Remedy the effects of ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism, and other Learning Disabilities * Boost Memory and Concentration * Increase Attention-Span > available from HowToLearn - click on ADD/ADHD tab > also available from ConquerAnxiety.com - click on Natural Supplements for Anxiety

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Herbal treatments for ADD a testimonial - My son is in the second grade. My son has had many difficulties in school sitting still, concentrating, and controlling his impulsive behavior. I started him on Focus and then started giving it to him with BrightSpark. I showed the bottles to my son's doctor, who specializes in sleep disorders and ADHD, and she felt the products were safe to give to my child. BrightSpark and Focus have made a tremendous difference. He was always getting sent out in the hall for distracting other children and getting answers wrong on assignments because he could not pay attention. The teacher noticed a difference in his behavior, and she didn't even know he was taking anything.

For the past month now, he has not taken BrightSpark because I ran out. I figured the school year was almost over anyway, so I did not reorder. That was a big mistake because now he is starting to act the way he did before. I reordered 3 bottles today, so I don't have to worry about running out for a while. I highly recommend both of these products. They definitely work. > also see Focus ADDult [for Adult ADD] > much more available from Native Remedies

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Jason Mark Alster. Being In Control: Natural Techniques For Increasing Your Potential and Creativity For Success in School. Also For Improving Concentration and Learning in Children with ADHD and Dyslexia
".. can help children improve themselves by using their full potential. The book describes proven techniques in a visual and active way that also allows the parent or instructor to participate. The techniques are natural, integrative and holistic and comply with recent theories in educational research. The child will learn simple but effective techniques for relaxation, focusing, and concentration... will improve your child's confidence in his own abilities. The book is based on years of research with accelerated learning, biofeedback, and yoga relaxation techniques." [author site]

Daniel G. Amen. Healing ADD: The Breakthrough Program That Allows You to See and Heal the 6 Types of ADD
Commonly perceived as a flavor-of-the-month diagnosis, ADD is, in fact, an enormous health problem that will only continue to grow. It affects six percent of the population, yet less than one-third of the afflicted are taking medication. Why? According to Dr. Daniel Amen, Attention Deficit Disorder is underdiagnosed, incorrectly treated, and poorly understood.
Dr. Amen, board-certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry has discovered that there are six types of ADD -- not just the commonly known two. Moreover, the most frequently prescribed treatment -- Ritalin -- makes four of these types worse.
> available from Brain.com -- click on "Cognitive" ... > also at [Amazon] 

Peter Breggin, Dick Scruggs. Talking Back to Ritalin: What Doctors Arent Telling You About Stimulants and ADHD
[Book News summary:] Breggin (International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology) severely criticizes the American Psychiatric Association and the pharmaceutical company Novartis, among others, for using the questionable diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children for pushing such potentially harmful stimulants as Ritalin, Metadate, and Concerta on children. He counters the scientific evidence on the existence of ADHD and details the many psychological problems that can develop in children exposed to Ritalin and other stimulants. He discusses the many environmental factors that can lie behind a child's poor performance in schools and explores the bureaucratic and corporate pressures to medicate America's children.

Lee Carroll, Jan Tober  The Indigo Children: The New Kids Have Arrived
"Many gifted children are being destroyed in the public educational system. Many gifted children are being falsely labeled with ADHD. And many parents are unaware that their child could be potentially gifted."

Edward M. Hallowell, John J. Ratey. Driven To Distraction : Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder
from Childhood Through Adulthood  

Kate Kelly, Peggy Ramundo. YOU MEAN I'M NOT LAZY, STUPID OR CRAZY?!: A Self-help Book for Adults
with Attention Deficit Disorder

Judith Kolberg, Kathleen Nadeau. ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life

Jonathan Mooney. Learning Outside the Lines: Two Ivy League Students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD
[Amazon.com:] "A practical guide to assist ADHD and LD teens in achieving their college goals. Especially for discouraged adolescents."

Benjamin Polis. Attention Deficit Disorder: Only a Mother Could Love Him

Sari Solden Women with Attention Deficit Disorder
[from preface:] "The book is based on six years of clinical observation and work with ADD adults, with a focus on the special challenges facing women... as a woman with ADD, I observed my own personal process as I began to understand what it means to live successfully in this culture. .. the book drew from all the talks and meetings Ive had with women across the country who have shared their feelings about ADD, disorganization, and how it affects their lives. Integrated with all this are the wonderful writings of many experts..."

Jeanette Wasserstein, et al. Adult Attention Deficit Disorder : Brain Mechanisms and Life Outcomes
This volume includes current and historical thinking by world renowned researchers and clinicians about adult attention deficit disorder, a relatively recent and still controversial diagnosis. Historical overviews are presented by authors synonymous with the earliest descriptions of the syndrome. State of the art biological theories and research findings are discussed, including neuroimaging studies, molecular genetics, neurochemistry, endocrinology, and acquired brain injury. Clinical assessment is discussed, including a review and critique of computerized assessment, neuropsychological evaluation and symptom rating scales. The important model of executive dysfunction is discussed, as is the overlapping conditions, including a review of medical conditions which produce attention deficits....

James T. Webb, et al. Misdiagnosis And Dual Diagnoses Of Gifted Children And Adults: ADHD, Bipolar, OCD, Asperger's, Depression, And Other Disorders
Reviewer: Carolyn K. "Mrs. Hoagie" (Hoagies' Gifted Education Page) -
Twice exceptional children, that is those who are both gifted and learning disabled, are an enigma to parents and professionals alike. And because of the overlap in characteristics, some gifted children are diagnosed as having other exceptionalities, when they are really just exhibiting characteristics of giftedness. Figuring these kids out is difficult, at best.

This book should be read by all. Parents will find great information and detailed vignettes describing many dual exceptionalities and misdiagnoses. Professionals, whether medical, psychological, or educational, will find the differential information that will enable them to stop pathologizing normal behaviors of the gifted, and to stop missing real diagnoses that were previously excused as characteristics of giftedness. And gifted adults will find confirmation of the differences they may have struggled with all their lives, that no one could ever explain before.

> also see : ADDitude [magazine subscription]

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Related: .Learning differences  : page 1.......Learning differences page2: quotes articles sites books........ 

 ..Left brain / right brain.....High Ability.....Intensity / sensitivity.....Hypomania

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