Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Twice Exceptional Best neuropsych for 2E?

DD will be needing another neuropsych eval in the next year or 2. I am willing to travel just about anywhere but want her evaluated by someone who *really* gets 2E. If I book now I have plenty of time to wait for just about any waiting list to clear. So who would you take your child to if you could see anyone?

Just as a reminder my DD has been labeled as "NLD-ish", not because she has NLD but "because its easier than saying super high verbal along with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, math disability, etc." She has roughly 4 standard deviations between her verbal scores and visual perception, working memory and processing speed. She also has anxiety (only in school) and terrible migraines.

The last neuropsych labeled her with ADHD-inattentive (placing her below the 1st percentile in attention!) which we flatly reject. Not only have we not received complaints about an inability to attend but we actually routinely receive comments about how well she focuses. I am convinced that what he measured was her total shut down from anxiety from a test that relied on her weaknesses in visual perception, working memory, processing speed and fine motor skills. This is a big red flag about really wanting her tested by someone who specializes in 2E situations.

Thanks in advance!

The neuropsych that DS saw was helpful, but wasn't really interested in both "e's" and didn't say much about the gifted part, other than he should have gifted programming due to his different learning style and should be at the correct level academically with accomodations made. I don't think he'd even see a kid like your DD if she hasn't had something like a TBI, autism-like symptoms, etc. So I can't really answer your question.

One thing he DID do that I appreciated was computerized testing for ADHD. He thought that DS has ADHD based on DS's very squirrely behavior but was able to rule that out as a diagnosis (for now) when DS did well on computerized testing. Once he was given actual tasks to do (even extremely boring ones like the long computer test) he settled down and focused. ADHD diagnoses can be so subjective and you need data from several different measuress. So many people don't bother to do this.

I would probably take her to the Eides.

If I could take my DS anywhere.. that's where I'd take him!

The neuropsych that I took Ds to recently had no idea who the Eides were (never heard of stealth dyslexia, etc). That is the third neuropsych in my area that I have found is not familiar with their work - that really astounds me!

The Eides site suggests they have over a year backlog and they are closed to new patients. I think it has said that for a year! Does anyone know if it is even possible to get on their wait list? Or is the wait list closed too?

I've always wondered about the Gifted Development Center in Colorado. From what I've read they seem to "get it", but I have had no personal experience with them.

Are you familiar with the Belin Bank center at the university of Iowa? They specialize in 2e

http://www2.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/Clinic/

Highly recommend the Eides.

Pem, sent you a PM.

The folks at the GDC do seem to "get it", and are very good at identifying giftedness in 2E children, but I don't believe they diagnose 2E. If they identify potential ADD, Visual/Auditory Processing Issues, Dyslexia/Stealth Dyslexia, Dysgraphia or other fine motor issues, etc., they will suggest seeing a specialist in each of these areas and/or a neuropsychologist depending on the issues. So the GDC is great for psychoeducational evaluations, but they don't provide all of the testing that a neuropsychologist does.

I keep checking but the Eides are still closed, even for waiting list. I really want to get on a wait list for someone good even if I cancel that when the Eides become available. So who? People here used to talk about a Dr. Amend in Ohio, Aimee Yermish in Massachusetts and Paul Beljan in Arizona but I haven't seen any if them mentioned lately. The one in Iowa looks great for straight giftedness but I'm not as sure about 2e...

Ideas? Suggestions? Feedback? All input welcome!