Despite the fact that many children and adults have been classified as people with few resources to When studying, it is important to take into account the specific characteristics of the person in each case. Sometimes the idea has been spread that people who have difficulty paying attention and a constant need to move have cognitive complications. In fact, for many years this principle has been shared in various student areas and generated considerable rejection of these people. However, this is not true, since the presence of a diagnosis that indicates an underlying pathology does not prevent the development of specific skills.
In this Psychology-Online article we explain how ADHD and giftedness are related.
Double exceptionality (2E) is a term used to describe people with high abilities Intellectuals who simultaneously present some type of disability, learning disorder or development, like the ADHD. In the case of the double exceptionality ADHD and high capacities, these people may have difficulty concentrating, maintaining attention
ADHD is an acronym used to refer to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a clinical diagnosis based on the difficulty to sustain a high level of attention to various stimuli that are present. This clinical picture has the particularity of including hyperactivity through a constant need for body movements. In general, hyperactivity is observed in people who have anxiety and stress.
On the other hand, high capacities are linked to high levels of development that can be denoted in areas such as intellectuality, practicality in solving specific tasks, manual skills, among others. According to research, it has been shown that ADHD may be accompanied by high abilities in people who are diagnosed with this clinical picture.
It is important to have tools and information to detect the characteristics of this clinical picture. Here we show you what children with gifted abilities and ADHD are like:
- May require a specific environment to carry out skills that they have acquired throughout life. However, certain distracting stimuli could be an obstacle for them since they prevent full concentration. In turn, this problem can lead to considerable levels of physical and mental exhaustion as a result of the great effort they make to act.
- At a certain point, high capacities could be a favorable aspect for a child, since it is easier for them to solve school activities. However, the complexity that these children present to sustain attention due to hyperactivity prevents them from maintaining the same performance for an extended period of time.
- In some cases, the development they possess in various areas may differ notably. For example, a child could present a high level in the comprehension of abstract contents that are studied in a school subject, but expressing serious difficulties in establishing social relationships through dialogue. You may also be interested in the article Are people with ADHD smarter?
It should be noted that, even if any of the points mentioned above are present, it is essential that the diagnosis is made by a mental health professional who evaluates the clinical conditions of each patient. In this sense, it is advisable to see a specialist if indicators of possible pathologies are detected.
In some cases, children who have been classified as ADHD and have high abilities may present problematic behaviors in shared spaces with classmates and teachers in charge. However, there are currently tools to treat this condition. Below we explain how to address the needs of children with double exceptionality:
- psychological therapy: It is essential to start a psychotherapeutic treatment that helps the child develop strategies to improve her quality of life. Psychological therapy tries to work on the conflictive points of children with double exceptionality through dialogue, play or concentration, among others. The most important thing is that the child has a space for emotional support.
- psychiatric medication: If the child has a condition of considerable severity that cannot be addressed through therapy, one of the alternatives consists of the supply of psychiatric medication. However, supervision by a mental health professional is essential.
- Curricular strategies: adapting school content according to the needs of each child is crucial for good academic performance. In this sense, the authorities of this institution have the task of evaluating the child with double exceptionality and preparing an appropriate work plan.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
