I used to work in the field of gifted ed--and there were so many debates about this topic. I kind of think the best way to handle it is to attached a noun. Gifted learner. Or adverb. Maybe cognitively gifted?
Nobody seems to mind when we refer to people as a gifted artist, gifted musician, or gifted athlete...so it seems to me that it just needs a modifier of some sort.
I actually don't like the term myself, because the implications are a little icky. I never refer to my own children as gifted, except in the company of other parents with gifted kids, or in the educational setting.
Having said that--genius is even worse. IMO
I agree, I think a modifier makes the word gifted more palatable.
