|
Education
January / February 2008
“The Square Peg
in a Round Hole”
When your child is
gifted…but has ADHD, behavior and other learning problems. Huh?
By
Michelle Rexach
“My
child is failing all his classes, has repeated a grade, and is
very disruptive at school, but we had him tested and his IQ is
130! What can we do?”
-An actual question I frequently encounter in my practice.
The sound of a “very smart
child” having any kind of problematic issues at school, let alone
learning problems, might sound contradictory or even bizarre. But
the reality is that this type of diagnosis is more common than
many parents think. In fact, research has shown that as much as
30% of the gifted population exhibits some form of learning
disorder!
These
students are often referred to as “twice exceptional,” because
giftedness can pose additional challenges beyond learning
disorders. It is not uncommon to find a high IQ student who has
obvious strengths in specific areas, such as outstanding verbal
and social skills, but when it comes down to writing for instance,
it’s completely illegible. This is the student who can perform
exceedingly well in an oral exam but will fail miserably in an
essay-type test. On the other side of the spectrum, we have the
high IQ-disruptive types. This is the student who is not receptive
to social cues, is defiant, oppositional and well, let’s be
honest, just plain obnoxious. However, he excels in leadership,
art, math or other areas.
The sad
thing is that twice-exceptional
children are one of the most under-served
populations in schools, research has established. Few school
districts have screening procedures to identify gifted students.
Fewer
still have special classes or programs to meet their needs. And
if such students pass through public schools with one or both
qualities unaddressed – and in most cases it's the giftedness left
unnoted – research studies say it's more than likely such students
will not develop their potential for achievement, falling between
the cracks. Most will enter adulthood without skills to compensate
for their learning disabilities. The result, studies say:
emotional turmoil, low self-esteem, depression, and even the
possibility of developing antisocial behavior.
SO, what
can you do to help your twice exceptional child? As parents,
begin to document as much as possible. Make a portfolio or journal
your child’s each and every accomplishment, such as science
awards, leadership roles, projects, and other samples of
outstanding work. At the same time, collect evidence of areas of
difficulty, such as writing samples, test scores, teacher notes of
disruptive behavior, etc… The next step is to have him tested.
An obvious initial assessment is as IQ test. Then proceed with
any additional assessments the psychologist recommends to pin
point areas of weakness, such as potential learning disabilities,
ADHD, conduct or mood disorders (many gifted children have been
diagnosed with bipolar disorder). Look for a qualified and
experienced professional who is knowledgeable in twice-exceptional
students. Don’t forget to bring your documentation, including
school work samples and a copy of his last progress report to the
appointment! The next challenge is to ensure proper placement. It
is important to not get too frustrated with this process.
Be prepared for some set backs and try to be flexible with your
options. Many parents find that their best option is to move their
child to another school, such as a charter or magnet school with
the right gifted program. This will take time, require some
research, patience and some extra driving. It is not an easy
road for these square pegs living in round holes, but it is
critical to identify and accommodate these children as
early as possible. Don’t let them fall through the cracks!
Michelle is
founder of Psycoeducational Services of Tampa Bay. She has been in
practice for over 6 years, starting in San Juan, PR. She is an
author of three books on the subjects of discipline, giftedness
and divorce, and also offers seminars and conferences nationwide,
including South and Central America. For more information
contact Michelle at
Psychoeducational Services of Tampa Bay. (813)
514-8293
back to top |
