Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Elementary School Kindergarten 2009-2010

I think that's wonderful and it shows it can be done!

I'm a little skeptical about the hyperfocus argument to discern between gifted and ADHD. Here's why - Lots of the books on ADHD are written by physicians who have ADHD. They are aware that they have ADHD and take about the pluses and minuses. Would you think that most physicians are also gifted, at least moderately gifted? Some are probably Highly gifted or more, and we can think of them as successful 2E's who's ultra high gifts 'cancel out' their disabilities, with hard work and luck. So when these experts who are still in denial about their giftedness (like other 2E's they spend a lot of time feeling stupid, particularly in comparison to their friends, and college and medical school buddies) say that they used 'hyperfocus' to get them through med school, I think that they used their 'gifted intensity' to get them through med school, and are attributing their strengths to the only label that they have to explain their success.

I mean, if anyone has research statistics about 'hyperfocus' in kids with ADHD of average IQ (in families with siblings of average IQ) I would love to see those statistics, until then, forgive me if I remain close minded.

But Jamie, I still think that the 'not being able to get words out' is worrisome. 5 minute attention span at age 5 - that might be age appropriate, I just have no idea. Will the school believe you if you have a dr. report that says 'no ADHD.' We had one that said 'Nonverbal learning disorder' but not ADHD, and the school told us that we were wrong. It was mind-boggling. Best Wishes,
Grinity

I'm not sure. I think I'll try one doctor and if he says that there's no ADHD I'll leave it at that since his pediatrician already said that thought it was just boredom.

This makes plenty of sense to me, since you have concerns, but I would be 'extra-careful' to read the book first (Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnosis) and try and choose someone who is used to the level of giftedness your son has. Best Wishes - it's isn't fair that we have to work so hard and 2nd guess outselves.
Grinity

Well, being a therapist at a children's mental health clinic for several years I saw it quite often. ADHD is not about lack of being able to sustain attention, it is a disregulation of attention...sometimes too much and sometimes not enough. Kids with ADHD often notice everything, but sometimes nothing. So often times kids can be very focused to the point of having a hard time transitioning to something else. I used to always hear the TV/computer argument with parents. They would say their child can't have ADHD because they can spend forever being engrossed in certain activities. They would say that their child would ignore them when the TV was on. Anyhow, don't have research on me, but I am sure there is plenty out there on it. I know I have read some of it when I was working in that position. There is a lot more to a diagnosis of ADHD, but just wanted to point out that I have seen children with ADHD that hyperfocus a lot in a population that was not gifted.

You're right! I seem to second guess myself so much!

My son is that way with the computer and TV. In fact we have completely gotten rid of our cable and have the TV only to watch movies every couple of weeks. DS is the same way with TV and computer. In fact even though I never let him watch much TV about a year ago I completely got rid of cable and he only watches a movie every few weeks. He'd get so engrossed in the TV that nothing would get through to him.

Just had a chance finally to read back on everyone's updates.

Jamie B: Hugs to you. Hope you figure out soon what's going on. This probably isn't your situation, but is DS on any medicines that could be contributing? We saw really erratic, awful behavior problems with my DS last winter/spring because of one of his asthma medicines. He didn't react in any other way so it took me awhile and a bunch of research to put the two together.

ShellyMos: Glad to see things are sorting out. Hope they stay on the good track!

MsFriz: Your school sounds like heaven.

Just a quick update here. DS5's teacher saw me on Thursday and told me that she'd finished her initial assessment and DS is currently in a reading group of 2, but that he'll have some work that he'll be doing alone. And they're putting him on the accelerated curriculum (not sure yet what that involves). Plus, the best news of all, she said that either she or the reading specialist is going to do further reading assessments on him! I think everyone's trying to figure out exactly where his reading level is and what he understands and doesn't with what he reads. Even I can't figure it out. He answers about half my questions about the books right.

Plus, she's got a puppet theater in the classroom that he loves. And I told her that he'd been reading Flat Stanley books at home. This weekend he told me that there's now a Flat Stanley book in the classroom library :-) Oh, and she's okay with his perfectionistic tendencies. So, when he wants extra time to do something just so, she gives it to him or sends it home for him to finish.

This has been SUCH a roller coaster month!

mom2twoboys - that's great news!

DS5.5 has his first day of 1st today - I can't wait to see how it went!

Hello everyone, It is getting harder for me to get on here lately. It is great to hear about all the Kindergartners, and I do read the posts when I can.

I wanted to suggest the book the Edison Trait for thinking about ADHD. I think the part of the book talking about divergent and convergent thinkers would be worth reading. I think children who are gifted or highly gifted and tend to have a more divergent thinking style could appear to share some ADHD traits and might easily be misdiagnosed. Also it seems that many school settings are geared for convergent thinkers making these ADD type traits stand out even more.

I wanted to give an update on DD4 who started K this fall. I was pretty skeptical at first as I did not have positive school experiences. DD seems to be enjoying Kindergarten. The teacher seems to have warmed up to her a lot and the school staff seem to like her a lot.

I still have not met the GT coordinator. I know DD met her but at this point the teacher wants to wait and let DD get used to the class before she has any other accommodations. The teacher differentiates and DD seems to be happy. She is in half day K and she is meeting other children so I guess for now it is okay. I hope that once we have a meeting we will find out more about how things will work for her.

She is early entranced but she is going to need more especially in language arts. I have not heard any sort of plan for that other than that for reading groups she would go with the GT coordinator. It is early in the year and I do not know what to expect or how much I should ask for at this point.