The Problem of Mis-diagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted/Talented Children

Presenter: Paul Beljan
 Characteristics of gifted and talented children can result in incorrect diagnoses, such as ADD/ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or Bipolar Disorder. Some gifted children do suffer disorders—such as in Learning Disabilities, Allergies, or Depression—but giftedness is often an overlooked factor. Few psychologists, pediatricians, or other health care professionals have received any training about the characteristics or common difficulties of gifted children or adults, though these professionals have much to offer such families. This Webinar describes how to differentiate whether a child or adult suffers from these disorders, or whether the child or adult is simply showing gifted behaviors. The session also discusses dual diagnoses, with an emphasis on disorders that occur more frequently among gifted populations. The session will close with ideas for the emotional/behavioral management of gifted children from a neuropsychological perspective.