Facing a possibility I’ve been avoiding:
gifted + inattentive ADHD. I don’t see myself as gifted. THEY did, way back. Early test scores put me there. A short story:
I’m 45 minutes into a 5th grade test to put me “Talented and Gifted” – a test where I sat by myself in a room with a single teacher who read the newspaper while I took this test, the desire to NOT DO THIS as I became more and more certain of how the track of this future would play out grew stronger and stronger.
With another hour or so go to, I brought the test forward.
“Do I have to finish this test?”
_don’t you want to finish this?_
“Do I have to finish this test?”
_this is for the talented and gifted program. (starts telling me virtues of program. I interrupt him)
“IS THIS … a requirement? Do I HAVE to finish this test?”
_…_
_…_
“Do I have to finish this test?”
_…_
_… well, while you don’t have to fin…_
I put the test in front of him and walked out.
Went back to regular class without a look back nor a shred of regret then or since.
So, I looked up studies of gifted + inattentive ADHD and yes, there I am.
“In this section, we have also described some circumstances in which gifted individuals with ADHD may be at an advantage. One of these is the state of “flow” which is sometimes also called “hyperfocus.” It is in this state that the breadth of options and perspectives known as giftedness can interact with ADHD to produce unpredictable yet delightful results. These moments of apparent alchemy often raise doubts about the validity of the diagnosis of ADHD because the students appears to perform with ease at such a high level. We contend that, on the contrary, such flashes of achievement must be measured against the overall pattern of disappointment and underachievement that all too frequently accompany even highly gifted students who have undiagnosed ADHD.”
Nice paper on giftedness and ADHD. Older: from 2000 but very valid.
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED447666.pdf
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