1. 2E: Students with Giftedness and ADHD Diagnosis, Characteristics, and Service Delivery

2. Diagnosing 2E ADHD and Giftedness together occur in about 2- 7% of the total special education population Increased risk for misdiagnosis due to difficulty remaining focused during transitions, staying organized, and sustaining attention during less- motivating activities Gifted children may be inappropriately referred for ADHD diagnosis, but actually have “restless intellect” Addressing a gifted student’s academic needs often eliminates ADHD-like symptoms

3. Characteristics of Giftedness (that look like ADHD) Impulsivity – diminishes with coaching Inattention – can repeat instructions even when not paying attention Inappropriate behavior in class – child often can explain misbehavior, diminishes with appropriate academic placement Social immaturity – diminishes with contact with academic peers Peer difficulties – diminishes with contact with academic peers Does not follow rules – diminishes with appropriate academic placement

4. Characteristics of ADHD (with or without giftedness) Impulsivity – persists even with correction and coaching Inattention – cannot repeat instructions Inappropriate behavior in class – child often feels “out of control” and cannot explain behavior Social immaturity – regardless of peer group Peer difficulties – regardless of peer group Does not follow rules – child often is not even aware of rules, or has not learned how to adhere to them

5. Characteristics of 2E (ADHD + Giftedness) Exhibit problem behaviors across settings (at school, in extracurricular activities, and at home) Exhibit continual and random activity and diffuse attention, with difficulty focusing on one activity or conversation Exhibit a wider and more debilitating discrepancy between intellectual age and social/emotional ages Painfully aware of their differences and academic failures and misbehaviors, which results in acting out (especially anger) Inconsistent academic performance from day to day, even in the same subject

6. Service Needs of 2E (ADHD and Gifted) Address giftedness first Medication is often contraindicated as it may suppress cognitive ability and creativity Subject acceleration may be appropriate Minimize teacher talk, maximize exploration and active engagement in learning and inquiry Teach word processing/computer skills to compensate for written expression issues http://lcps.k12.nm.us/wp- content/uploads/2013/02/Teaching-Students-who-are- Gifted-and-ADD-HD.pdf http://lcps.k12.nm.us/wp- content/uploads/2013/02/Teaching-Students-who-are- Gifted-and-ADD-HD.pdf