On 5/06/08, girl in gulfport wrote:
> On 5/05/08, Wondering wrote:
>> I've read the research on how gifted & adhd tend to present
>> in a similar way. In your opinion, how do you tell the
>> difference?
>>
>
>
I teach gifted students (including some with ADHD), and 100
5th graders (some gifted, some with ADHD). I'll give you
examples I've observed to contrast them. The fifth grader
with ADHD is constantly moving on the risers in the concert,
is constantly tapping his pencil, is constantly talking to the
person next to him, is sweet and friendly when you speak
directly to him, but distracted and distracting when you
address the class, even for two minutes.
The gifted third grader with ADHD is constantly up and around
the room, taps his pencil while he creates eraser faces and
describes elaborate plans to sell them to his peers, is
friendly and funny when you speak directly to him, but
constantly questioning every direction you give the class--and
they are valid questions (except if he had listened for two
minutes he would have had them answered). He offers amazingly
insightful observations during discussions, but has difficulty
attending to anything his peers say during the discussion.
A gifted fifth grader without ADHD often poses valid questions
and alternatives to assignments--but after directions are
given (and he will ask individually if it's a situation that
only applies to him and not the group.) He will sometimes try
to talk his way out of assigned work by giving a creative
answer (the whole, "I did draw a picture--it's a blizzard in
Siberia" idea). He takes initiative and adds creative and
unexpected twists to performances, solutions, and written work.
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