Hyperactivity in clever kids?

[florida-again]

A family friend has a son who is known for being 'crazy'. Not badly behaved, just really really energetic. He can't sit still for one minute.
I bbsat for him last week and noticed he was ridiculously bright. I don't mean geeky, knows a lot of stuff bright - I mean reads, talks and understand stuff that is just way above your average 6yo. I don't think he knows he's so clever. I couldn't believe it. He isn't at all studious, but it just comes naturally to him.
I'm wondering now if thats why he's so energetic. The only time he sat still thte whole night was when he was watching Who Wants to be a Millionaire (and was clued to it). Maybe that's also why he can't sit still at school. Does anyone know if this is a regular occurence in a kid like this?

 

[Cindy B]

There is a correlation between bright/gifted children and ADD. In fact some parents show a lot of frustration because not only is thier student gifted but also is medically diagnosed with OHI (other health impairment which could include ADD)

The school district says special education isn't necessary because of the high test scores. The parents state that the high scores comes from the support services. Technically the law states that an OHI is grounds for special education services.

To make my state more complicated, gifted and talented funds and direct special education funds are from the same account. So these gifted kids are considered special education children. That doesn't bother me, but some parents cant get over that. I can't tell you how many times I have heard "My child is gifted, he doesnt need special ed."

If you did an INternet search of Gifted/ADD or even Gifted/Autism, you will see some interesting results. I had a student with Autism a few years back that was highly gifted, but still Autistic (high functioning)

 

[tkd lisa]

Oh yeah! This is my DD to a T!

She could read and understand National Geographic as a Kindergartener. And we never taught her to read, she self taught! In fact, the first time I really realized it was when she picked up that National Geographic, and started reading the headline article to me!

This is the same kid that at 8 years old, completely explained the economic theory of opportunity cost (i.e. when you give up something to get something else, the thing you gave up is an opportunity cost).

But at the same time, she'll end up with 50% on her grades, because she can't be bothered to turn in the work! Averaging 100% and 0% gives you a 50% When she was younger, I fought the ADHD diagnosis, because if she was interested, she could/would concentrate, and I though ADHD meant that it wasn't within the person's control. But boy, what a difference the meds make! It is night and day different. The doctor says that is VERY common with ADHD kids (the ability to focus when it's important to them). Basically, my DD has a strong will, so CAN overcome the physical issue when it's important to her. But some days, when she just can't overcome the problem, she gets so frustrated! Best decision we ever made was putting her on concerta.

It's gotten better as she's gotten older, since she's more able to understand that you have to focus on things you don't really like in order to get to the things you do like.

But yes, I'd say it's very common to have gifted children with ADHD.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

There could be any one of several things going on here. First off, he could just act up because he's bored and unchallenged in a lot of situations. ADHD is a possibility, but you're not in a position to diagnose it--there are specific tests and symtoms that professionals look at. As others have hinted at, there is also a "condition" (for lack of a better word) called "dual exceptionalities". That's when a person is both gifted and learning disabled. Sounds weird, but they can have processing problems but still be gifted. This is one of my bugaboos, because DH has an IQ of 147 but no short term memory--dual exceptional! The real killer is, his parents thought he was just lazy and not trying hard, when the poor guy was busting his butt for the B's he got. He was finally diagnosed at 28! So, any number of things can be going on with this particular child. It's also possible that he's just high energy, or craves attention, etc. I don't know what you could do about it, except possibly mention to his parents that you've noticed how bright he is, and see if you can segue into a discussion of behaviors and the possibility of testing him. A lot of parents are against testing, not wanting their kids to be labelled. Frankly, I'm a big fan, and had my DS8 tested a couple years back due to him having a weird development pattern. Turns out, he's not learning disabled, but he's either 95th percentile, or he's 5th percentile. Sigh! So, the quirkiness continues, but he's fine--just unique.

 

[florida-again]

Buzz n Belles mom, I think you are correct in saying he is most likely bored and unchallenged. I don't think he's ADD or autistic. But I definitely think he's so energetic because he's not being stretched enough. Interestingly, when I complimented his parents about how clever he is, they were very eager to downplay it bevcause they didn't want to belittle his older, not so smart, brother

 

[stm61]

yup, I've got a ds with an IQ of 140. He's also ADHD, tho the hyper part has calmed down quite a bit as he's gotten older, and is also LD. He receives special ed services for the LD and with his IQ should be getting straight A's. Wrong! He hates writing, has a horrible time getting things on paper (part of his LD involves a writing, fine motor problem), and just refuses to do the work. He got thru 5th gr with A's and B's on test scores alone. Once he hit 6th gr homework started to count towards grades, guess who went to C's, D's, and lower! He's finally starting to see the light in 7th gr and completes most of his homework in study hall.

 

[crazelion]

I am AHDD, gifted, and LD got digonsed in the 4 th grade got the proper help to get me through school. I was lucky the teacher notice I had a problem and told my mother to have me tested for all three.

I still can write or spelling by putting it on paper no mattered how hard I tried.

Have the kid tested it may be the best thing for him.

 

[tiggerlover]

Sounds a lot like my DS (9). He is ADHD-I, very intelligent and in the gift class at school. He was always so energetic, unable to sit still and very impulsive, when he was younger he exhausted me to no end. In kindergarten he was having some issues with impulses and not being able to sit still so we had him tested. The diagnosis was ADHD, we didn't believe it so we tried a special diet and behavior modification, which served us well enough until 3rd grade. When he started 3rd grade his inability to control his impulses disrupted the class so we had him tested again by a specialist. This time the diagnosis again was ADHD, with an emphasis on (I) impulsivity. DS does not have attention deficit, he has a little hyperactivity, that he is learning to channel, but he has a HUGE problem with impulse control. We finally started him on meds last year and it has made a big difference for him. He has always been bright, always gotten good grades, has been on the honor roll all of 3rd grade and so far all of 4th grade. He still has days when he needs to work on his impulses, but as he is getting older he is more aware. Is there a connection between ADHD and a brilliant child, I don't know, but there seems to be evidence that suggests that.

 

[shortbun]

My son calls it being "active." He gets so "active" that he becomes manic sometimes. We've tried no wheat diets, no food dye diets, no refined sugar diets and all three at once-nothing helps. He's old enough to know that he can tell a grownup he's feeling that way now and most understand and tolerate. He's 'gifted' and thankfully athletic. It seems that the more physical activity he gets, the less active he feels. I enroll him in as many sports as possible.

 

[chobie]

yup, I've got a ds with an IQ of 140. He's also ADHD, tho the hyper part has calmed down quite a bit as he's gotten older, and is also LD. He receives special ed services for the LD and with his IQ should be getting straight A's. Wrong! He hates writing, has a horrible time getting things on paper (part of his LD involves a writing, fine motor problem), and just refuses to do the work. He got thru 5th gr with A's and B's on test scores alone. Once he hit 6th gr homework started to count towards grades, guess who went to C's, D's, and lower! He's finally starting to see the light in 7th gr and completes most of his homework in study hall.

Ok, you just described my 8 y.o ds. We can't get the school to help with the writing problem. They can't see past his short attention span. When he does his work and remembers to hand it it, he gets 96-100% on everything. However, that is not very often so his grades are all C's. They are just now wanting to test him for ADD, but the refuse to acknowledge his motor skill/handwriting problems and it's very frustrating.