Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Twice Exceptional For parents with experience with ADHD and gifted

I am confused by this. I've had two kids diagnosed with ADHD while in college in their 20's.

A diagnosis can absolutely be made in adulthood, but the onset of symptoms has to be in childhood. Otherwise it's not a developmental disorder, and would receive a diagnosis from a different section of the DSM.

Thanks for the clarification. Since they're both adults, I didn't see the actual reports - they went directly to the college. that is likely what happened.

Impulse control issues and getting kicked out of many age appropriate activities were an issue for our highly hyperactive/impulsive ADHD DD. Well-meaning friends kept saying, just set better limits for her. Deep down, we knew all along. It does run in the family. DD happens to not have classic ADD problems - she is not forgetful and she does not lose things or need information delivered in slow chunks, as is advised for students with ADD.

Her wiggliness got her singled out in front of the class in first grade and THAT was not acceptable for us. We had sought help prior to that, but when she was segregated in a negative way for her hyperactive, impulsive behavior, we got a formal diagnosis from a MD and we also got a WISC-IV done to rule out giftedness. In the end, an ADHD dx and a teeny tiny amount of medicine has helped her quite a bit and she appreciates that. Her GAI approaches 158.

Trust your gut.