The article has significant weaknesses. The authors use signs and symptoms that are characteristic of learning disabilities and neurologically-based exceptionalities (such as Asperger's) as indicators that a child has attachment problems, and then turn around and assert that attachment problems, not learning disabilities, are the cause of underachievement. They define securely attached children as being trusting, confident, emotionally regulated, socially competent and empathetic, which seems designed to label anyone with significant LDs, ADD/ADHD or autism spectrum traits as having "insecure attachment".
They go on to talk about how well-adjusted children are securely attached (What is a well-adjusted child? Why, one who is trusting, confident, socially competent, emotionally regulated and empathetic, of course...), and how most gifted children seem well-adjusted (and thus securely attached), but some appear to have social adjustment problems - which are, apparently by definition, signs of insecure attachment, not signs of an inappropriate environmental match or disability.
It is one of the most poorly reasoned papers I have ever read.
