ADHD and giftedness | ADHD Information

 

 

Yes, The same thing happened to my son.  He was removed from the reading portion of the gifted program because he couldn't keep up with the writing.  We would be up past bedtime with homework if he had stayed in.  In our district, you have to score between 95 and 99 on the standardized tests to be in the gifted program- he scored 99.  But as the teacher pointed out to me, there are plenty of smart kids in the regular class who scored a 94.  But he often has insights the other kids in this class just don't have- but has way more trouble than all of them keeping up with the mechanics.  If I ever find a better med combo, I might put him back, but as of right now I don't think so.

Bubbles

 

Did anyone have a problem that once their child was accepted into a gift program - they couldn't keep up because of the writing? My son had to do a research project with a lot of writing and he would take so long to write, even to copy his work from the sloppy copy (he didn't apply himself at all as the teacher said), that he had to drop out until next year to try again. The writing in the reading is sometimes more than Chase wants to do....but he does get through it with my help...he knows what he wants to say, but sometimes just cannot get it into words on the paper.  I help him get his thoughts into sentences and help him to remember the sentences until he gets it written.  I am hoping to address these issues at a 504 meeting and see what kinds of accommodations we can come up with.

I am fortunate (or Chase is) in that he has always tested well, so he got into the Edge classes which sounds like the enrichment classes okiemom is talking about...he gets to go to computer classes that the other kids don't get(the non edge kids) where he learned how to take and work with digital photos on the computer, and other fun stuff.  And just like okiemom says, they are a great boost to his self esteem.   Chase's grades are sometimes affected greatly by the disorganization that goes hand in hand with ADHD, but so far his elementary teachers are helping w/o written accommodations.  I am not so sure the teachers will be so understanding in the middle school, and that is why I am beginning to gather the needed paper trail to get 504 accommodations in place for middle school.

 

I agree with okiemom about getting into gifted programs if eligible.  In elementary school, they were lifesavers.  He said that he wished all of school was like that.  Not just pull out a couple times a week.  In one district they grouped math and reading by ability so that he was at an appropriate level.  When we changed districts it took a lot of pushing and home tutoring to keep him at an advanced math level.  

Hi. My son is a twice exception child...aka 2E child.  He is dx'd ADHD primary inattentive, but also has an auditory processing disorder, language processing weaknesses, and a writing disorder. ADHD and giftedness is quite common by the way.

My son is now 14 and in 8th grade, but we realized his giftedness early on. In 2nd grade I had a neuropsych do extensive testing privately and I used the results of his IQ tests to get him qualified for our district's gifted and talented program.  He wouldn't have qualified for this program, which is more of an enrichment program, based on the regular testing the district does for entry into the program because of his reading/language weaknesses plus his problems with timed test situations.  I took the neuropsych IQ test report to the school and because he was in the 99th  percentile (entry required 97 or above), they accepted him with no question.   Now.....  7 years later, he is still in enrichment classes and they are his favorite!!  They were a huge self esteem booster for him too. I expect him to take some AP classes in high school even though his grades on paper don't really fully reflect his capability. Grades are brought down by the organizational problems due to the ADHD...however he still must learn to cope and compensate.

Bottomline........... don't let your gifted ADHDer fall through the cracks in the school system because thats were most fall in the public system!  Okiemom

504 is accommodations that the school can put in place to help a child acheive the same success as any other child (w/o a disability).  An IEP is more involved, and a 504 is used when grades are not so much an issue, and in my case, Chase will have an issue with grades if he doesn't get help with....

recording assignments in a planner breaking down lengthy assignments (his personal downfall) organization of desk/locker/bookbag extra set of textbooks for home

There is probably more but it is too late to remember now....

I think the weblite is www.wrightslaw.com... it has lots of info on IEP, and 504 plans

My son fits the category of "twice exceptional."  He is a real mixed bag...ADHD and gifted and has Learning Disabilities in Language and Reading.  He is dysgraphic and also has extremely low visual processing.  Considering how he was challenged in learning to read, he might even be a remediated dyslexic.

The 504  for extra time on tests and inclass writes has made a world of difference for him.  It was so hard to convince them that he needed a 504 when his grades were so good. People finally understood his struggle. 

He is a high school senior has taken  seven or eight AP classes and advanced math classes at the community college....altho he is a slow reader and at composing essays, he has an A- in AP English/Lit.   He is finally learning  cursive writing with a flowing hand.


 The key for him has been enriching what he does well and keep plugging away at the challenges.
jfla239116.9842013889

Our 6 yr old son was identified as likely gifted.  They do not apparently test this early.  He was also diagnosed with ADHD when he was 5.  I am wondering if this is common to be both, and if anyone has any suggestions when dealing with the school.

Any insight would be very helpful!

My DD's pediatrician said the gifted programs are full of ADHD children, so yes, it is common.

FYI, you can also be gifted in one or more areas and have a learning disability in another area.  That is called twice exceptional.

I think it is quite common for ADHD children to be gifted, both of my inattentive ADHD children are extremely smart. 

Right now, i am beginning the 504 process so that once he gets to middle school, I can have accommodations in place to help him get to the potential he is capable of.  He does very well (90% or above) on jsut about everything he turns in....the kicker is to get him to remember it is due, remember to do it, then to remember where it is!

Okay, what is the 504 process?Tyler is also extremely smart.  He is 8 and multiplies and divides in his head.  Most of the time he figures up my work timecard for me and helps with the check book.  If it is something he enjoys he excells beyond belief, the trouble we have is with reading because you actually have to sit down to do that.  I think almost every adhd child i have come across as a pediatric nurse has a niche where they are so incredibly advanced and they get in trouble the most because they are not stimulated enough or when there is a lot of down time at school or home. punkin's mom,

When we changed school districts, the new one did not group by ability in math.  In 4th grade my son used to actually cry because he hated doing what he had done two years before.

I ended up borrowing a text for the appropriate level (6th grade) and tutored him at home.
Meanwhile, I checked with the district math specialist to find out if he could take a 5th grade math test.  I requested that if he passes it then he would not do 4th grade math in school. 
 I suggested that I tutor him at home, and during math time in class he do the exercises from our lesson.  I corrected everything, kept records and turned it in to the teacher at the end of each unit.  
  In 5th grade, he took a test which qualified him to take online courses through Johns Hopkins Center for Gifted and Talented Youth.
He enjoyed it.  Then in middle school I requested testing for advanced math placement.  He was placed three years advanced.  He was finally happy saying, "I just want to do my level math at school"  It has gone great since then.

To find out more about online math courses, check out: http://cty.jhu.edu/

I work at a high school where there is a third grader taking Math Analysis (Pre-Calc) and Physics!  He attends the elementary school to be among his age peers the rest of the day.

Good Luck!

jfla239121.0577893518

My son self taught himself how to read when he was 4.  He has just started to do basic algebra.  He does seem to struggle with the writing portions. 

So now here we are....We have a great general pediatrician who is quite involved and is also involved at my son's school.  Our son is enrolled in a Catholic elementary school (although, we are not Catholic) as we felt he would benefit more from the smaller class sizes.  Now I am feeling daunted on how to access and/or navigate the system to get him into either more advanced curriculum or into the gifted and talented programs.  I have asked for more advanced ready assignments....no, class needs to work together.  Son is bored with simple math and sometimes struggles with it.  I feel that sometimes, no one can see beyond the ADHD and see his abilities.  We live in a smaller school system.  DH and I work full time.  No choice.  Any ideas?

I am in a quandry.  My son's teacher called me the other day and said she really felt Tyler needed to be tested for the GT program.  While I completely agree he is extremely advanced and gets bored very easily I worry about the reading too.  Did anyone find if there are stipulations anywhere that a child can do one but not the other.  I want to go into our school meeting prepared.

jfla2

Could you re-post the web destination.  I could not link to it.

BTW, DS is on day 10 of the Daytrana.  The Focalin had just stopped working.  He is back up to his ability levels and is more positive about going the extra step in his work. 

I worry about being the mom who cried wolf and DS being tested for the TG program and that he is not really GT.  Did you have any feelings like this or second guessing.  I am an only child an I don't have anything or anyone to measure from in this situation.  I wish we had a local or even semi-local ADHD parents group.  Thanks for all of your helpful posts!

punkin' s mom39122.8990277778

Hi Jo-D,

In our school district they test language and math separately and only place a child in advanced classes for the areas they are advanced in. The local high school also allows these kids to take classes for college credit if they are in the honors program (the program is GATE for elementary and honors for middle and high school).

Does the school district have a web site with information on the programs?

Punkin's mom,
I'm sorry about the link, but you should be able to get to the site if you copy and paste the link to your browser's url space.  (or whatever that box is called )

I know that one math program that Johns Hopkins' CTY program uses is also available through other service agencies.  For example, a school district uses it for their online distance learning programs available for their students.  You might want to try searching online for distance learning programs. 

If you think he might be gifted then the only way to find out is through testing and you shouldn't feel funny about it.  All three of my kids are quite bright and have different experiences with gifted programs.

Ds18 is especially gifted in math/logic but the adhd brings his score down in other areas.  The first time the school tested him (first grade), he just missed the cut off.  He was later put on Ritalin and retested the following year.  His score was a bit above the cutoff.  I attributed it to the Ritalin, but when he was tested two years ago the psych said that the same tests should not be given a year apart because it can give  inaccurate results.  His total score at age seven was similar to the score at age 16.

Dd21 was never tested but the school she attended  put kids in the GT program by teacher reccommendation and perhaps some tests, but there wasn't any special testing.  So she was in GT program.

Ds15 was disappointed with KDG, and very bored in first grade.  He was tested (not individually like his brother) at school in a group setting in first grade.  He just missed the cut off for GT and told me later that he wouldn't answer one of the questions because it was too easy.  He seemed insulted.  It was difficult just to get him to do the test.   He was tested a year later, just missed the cutoff again.  They said I could get a more accurate measure if I did it privately.  But honestly for him, I didn't want to subject him to more testing, he didnt like doing extra work in a pull out program.  I did a lot of enrichment things with him at home building on what they were doing in school and of his own interests.  Once he entered middle school he was put in advanced classes.  I do not regret followup testing with him.  It was the right thing to do for him at the time.

Do what feels right.