Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Recommended Resources Frontline documentary - The Medicated Child

When DS was being screened for K, the teacher met with him one on one in the Library. She was telling him something very important, but since he was in a library, he was looking at the books and not her. I gently suggested that maybe he come over closer to the teacher and look at her. But Mrs.K said, "Oh, don't worry about that. This is how your son listens." She was right, of course, and I was very happy to let her have my son in her class.

I will mention, though, that DH,who is PG himself, was like this through school and it never was a problem (he has a doctorate from a top school). But once he had to manage work, marriage, household, and parenting tasks, he did start to run into trouble, feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. The Dx of ADD that he got at that time saved him from the life of anxiety and depression that plagues most of his family. On medication, he feels like he can really be himself and we are both very happy. I used to be one of those ADD skeptics, but now I'm more willing to accept the diagnosis, because I personally have seen what a difference it can make.

We got this comment also, plus some kids do learn better while wiggling. Key is to find quiet fidgets that are satisfying but not disrubtive! And to spend at least some time during the week working at readiness level.

Good Point!
Grinity

OHGrandma - you totally described my DS7 as well. Our preschool teachers commented on this at conferences. "He always follows what's going on, but he's always moving". They were probably insinuating ADHD at the time, but fortunately, I was too dense to realize it. And when things are more fast paced, I think he tends to focus on one thing better. When's it a complex lego set or the like, he'll sit still for hours. Great point.

ACS - your teacher who recognized this trait in your son sounds like a gem!

She was the best. In fact, when DS was in 5th, there was a half hour block of time when his teacher was doing remediation with the other kids and was worried that DS would be bored. Mrs.5, Mrs.K and DS came up with a plan whereby DS would go help Mrs.K with her kindergarteners for that half hour. He would work side by side with the teacher and her other (adult) aid and was treated like a peer by them and a big brother by the kindergarteners. He gained a lot of confidence and poise from that, and how he was treated. When DS graduated 5th, Mrs.K gave him the whole Harry Potter series in hard cover as a graduation present. It was a very special bond.

PS I'm not suggesting that having GT kids help other kids is always the right thing to do, but because of the relationship in this case, it was totally natural and a wonderful experience for everyone involved.

I did not see the program, but have read some about this. I am sure there is over-diagnosis; however, I also do believe it is a real issue in cases, and I wonder if high intelligence "masks" ADHD diagnosis as well as the cases you have mentioned about people confusing high intelligence/multitask ability with ADHD.

For instance, what about a kid who can do his school work, ace his tests, such that his teachers would not even think there's an issue and wouldn't refer him. However, at home he is inefficient/unfocussed (homework that should take 20 minutes takes 2 hrs or longer and several episodes of redirection), completely disconnected to his body such that he breaks everything in his path, sometimes disproportionately angry/violent, etc. Some clear ADHD issues that could be "helped" by medication. Is it really so sinful to help him get along, be socially acceptable/likeable, score substantially higher scores on tests, etc. Doesn't every parent want their kid to have it easier?

As I get older and forget more, need to make lists, I think that if there was a medication that helped improve my "functioning" I'd at least try it. I don't understand why there is such a stigma with medicines when they're supposed to be developed to help people.

I can only speak for DH who went on meds as an adult. He says that he feels more like himself than ever on meds. There is no difference in his creative work, in fact, I would say it is better because he is not struggling so much with feelings of being overwhelmed and anxious. I think that in retrospect he would have gone on the meds a lot sooner had he known. On the other had, he may have learned a lot of good skills managing his own ADD without meds all those years. There is also some concern that the meds may have physical side effects (blood pressure for example), so maybe exposing a person to them before they need them could cause physical side effects.

The meds act quickly and are out of the system quickly. For older children and adults a trial of meds is often very easy to do (unlike some drugs that take weeks to notice). DH and I saw positive effects immediately. His psychiatrist said the meds were equal to about 300 cups of coffee. He said people with ADD feel that the meds will "mellow them out" rather than hype them up. That is exactly what happened to DH, he calms down because he feels like he is able to process and prioritize all the information that is coming at him (much of that info comes from his own brain BTW).

DH is very open about his diagnosis and experience with ADD. He hopes that by sharing, he can help others.

Dottie and KCAB, I do think that many of the traits of gifted look like ADD or ever cause ADD. Certainly for DH I think they are inextricably linked. I would not have him without ADD because the ADD is a byproduct of all the really cool things his brain does. But the meds "take the edge off" and help him function when he has a lot of things going on. There is no doubt that in the years immediately following the birth of our child, he was starting to melt down and it was very scary to all of us. The issue in mental health is to figure out the point when at "trait" becomes a disorder that is interfering with day to day functioning. I'm not sure that happened to DH until he was 30.

kcab, DH and I have discussed meditation, and he agrees in theory. I actually have formally studies several forms of meditation and teach some relaxation. But he has never actually pursued it. And meditation is not something a wife can force her husband to do if he doesn't want to.

One more feature of DH's ADD which is very relavent to HG people is the ability to hyprefocus, to do one thing to the exclusion of all else. I am sure this ability helps him immensely in his work (and to a degree, in our relationship. When he pays attention to me, his full attention is on ME. I love that about him!). But when he is deep in hyperfocus and something breaks through his attention (like a phone ringing, a child asking to have his bottom wiped, a wife wondering when he'll be leaving for work in the morning), the interuption takes a ton of his energy and is almost physically painful for him. Again, the meds don't take the ability to hyperfocus away, but they take the edge off it and make the transition back to family life easier.

Pscyhiatrist says that probably DH has normal executive function in his brain (the part that keeps track of information, surroundings, details etc), but that the rest of his brain is way above normal and the executive function can't keep up. Like a jet engine on a Honda. Neither bad, just not suited to each otehr.

Hi ACS,

I am relating to your post. My DH takes medication for ADD and it has changed our lives. I agree we should be looking at traits individually, but people like to sort and categorize. I thrive intellectually on complexity and details. It seems like a lot of people want simplicity.
I was diagnosed as ADHD as a child, however, I don't have it. I can see both sides.
We still don't have a great understanding of how the brain works because it's so complex.
I'll guess that everyone's brain is more different than the same and am glad to see modern medical science moving toward individualizing one's own "set-up" as opposed to trying to fit everyone into a few set categories of mental functioning.

For anyone still wondering about this stuff and how it relates to giftedness, I recommend reading the Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnosis of Gifted Children and Adults book. It goes over both the problem of gifted kids who are diagnosed erroneously and gifted kids who have issues that are not identified due to their giftedness. It's a wonderful resource.

not to be argumentative, but doesn't giftedness fall under abnormal psychology when studying the field of psychology. If that's how it's defined in "psychology" I think that's telling.
I thought I picked that somewhere, but could be wrong.
I am pursuer of many subjects, master of none.

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