Misdiagnosis And Dual Diagnoses Of Gifted Children And Adults: Adhd, Bipolar, Ocd, Asperger's, Depression, And Other Disorders

Rating:
Summary: Great Treatment of a Much Neglected Topic
Review: As wife/husband physicians who specialize in the treatment of children with learning problems, we've often wished we had a book on this topic to give to our patients, and this book has more than fulfilled our wishes. The authors carefully and thoroughly assess the difficulties of evaluating gifted children for some of the most common behavioral/psychological disorders, and in so doing shed new light on many often misunderstood behavioral characteristics of gifted children. Dr. James Webb, co-author of one of the most important and helpful books in the gifted child literature--"Guiding the Gifted Child"--has assembled a team of experts from a variety of clinical disciplines to write this book, and the benefit of their different perspectives clearly shows through. One of the best things about this book is that it's written in a style and at a level that it can benefit everyone from full time clinicians to educators to parents, and even to gifted tweens and teens. Since it's publication we've recommended it frequently to many of our patients.

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Summary: An analysis of two traits that can cause difficulties
Review: Talented medical and mental health professionals James T. Webb Ph.D., Edward R. Amend Psy.D., Nadia E. Webb Psy.D., Jean Goerss M.D. M.P.H., Paul Beljan Psy.D., and F. Richard Olenchak Misdiagnosis And Dual Diagnoses Of Gifted Children And Adults is a no-nonsense analysis of two traits that can cause difficulties among children - mental disorders including ADHD, Bipolar, OCD, Asperger's, and Depression, and natural giftedness in areas such as language, mathematics, or other intellectual talents (athletic-ally gifted children often have a much easier time of it in America's all too anti-intellectual society). Misdiagnosis is a great problem for such children - the gifted child who is inattentive because he or she is bored by the curriculum or who has trouble socializing with age group peers because their intellect and interests lag so far behind will be overmedicated, deprived the chance to develop his or her gifts, or worse if wrongly labeled with a mental disorder. On the other side, a child with a mental disorder such as ADHD or Asperger's, whether gifted or not, will be done a grave disservice if not properly diagnosed and treated. Misdiagnosis And Dual Diagnoses Of Gifted Children And Adults closely examines the criteria for determining giftedness and mental disorders, as well as whether the two co-exist, and presents up-to-date information in clear terms that professionals and parents alike can readily grasp. An absolute "must-have" for parents and child psychologists alike, and deserving the highest possible recommendation.


Rating:
Summary: Must-Read for parents, medical, psychological, and education
Review: Twice exceptional children, that is those who are both gifted and learning disabled, are an enigma to parents and professionals alike. And because of the overlap in characteristics, some gifted children are diagnosed as having other exceptionalities, when they are really just exhibiting characteristics of giftedness. Figuring these kids out is difficult, at best.

Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults should be read by all. Parents will find great information and detailed vignettes describing many dual exceptionalities and misdiagnoses. Professionals, whether medical, psychological, or educational, will find the differential information that will enable them to stop pathologizing normal behaviors of the gifted, and to stop missing real diagnoses that were previously excused as characteristics of giftedness. And gifted adults will find confirmation of the differences they may have struggled with all their lives, that no one could ever explain before. While the book does not replace professional counseling, it does offer great first steps towards dealing with both the frustrating characteristics of giftedness, and the symptoms of dual exceptionalities.

Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses is a valuable resource for parents, teachers, and professionals from both psychological and medical communities. It should be among every school's counseling resources, and every pediatrician's reading list. And parents of both gifted and twice exceptional kids should make time to read it.

Bottom line: I LOVE it! And though I wish I had it years ago, I found several very valuable sections to help with my own kids even now, plus tons of great information to recommend to both parents and professionals who come to Hoagies' Page seeking help.

Half the royalties from purchases of Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults go to support the nonprofit organization SENG - Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted www.sengifted.org!