Mom of gifted child seeking answers.

by Dianne
(Tempe Arizona USA)

I landed here today as I am looking for a high school for my son that is gifted in math and science, visual spatial learner and inventive thinker.




Going through the checklist I see that I was a hypersensitive tactile child, and empathic, my mother was hypersensitive olfactory, visual and auditory, and empathic, but her position is, so what you have to deal with what you have and still function in society.

My son is auditory and some visual and oral sensitive. He has a problem focusing in school.

Looking for knowledge to help me help him.


Dianne

firefoxkitty@gmail.com



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Feb 24, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Gifted Visual Spatial learner
by: Anonymous

These descriptions sound so much like my son. The teacher/school wanted him to be evaluated for ADHD. After reading the checklists it seemed very much like he fit the bill and his scored assessments showed he met the diagnostic criteria. However, I am very thankful for our pediatrician who despite seeing that he definitely met the ADHD criteria that there was more going on. She believed that he was in fact gifted. Since then I have spent hours researching online and reading. It has become very clear that he is most likely a gifted visual spatial learner. Interestingly enough this has explained so many of his quirks - both positive and negative one. His overexcitablitlies - energy sensitivity emotionally, sensitive eyes, food texture sensitivities. Why he is a bright boy who particularly loves adult conversation but struggles in school - mainly handwriting, spelling, and attention/organization/impulse control. I recommend a couple of these sites and an overall search on gifted visual-spatial learners. It is what has finally made the pieces of the puzzle come together for us. Maybe it would do the same for you or someone else.
giftedservices.com.au/.../Physical%20Sensitivities%20Checklist.doc
http://www.scribd.com/doc/7280161/I-Think-in-Pictures-The-Visual-Spatial-Learner
Jun 06, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		study coaching
by: Anonymous

I recommend a study coach who will help your student set up an organizational system and then check in regularly to make sure he is following it. I would do it daily to start then less frequently over time as the organization is maintained and improved. Learning to organize is a skill which is not taught in school. colleges expect that students already know how to do this. Students with attention issues need an outside stimulus, trainer, therapist to help implement the process.
Apr 29, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Asking for help
by: Anonymous

Hi

I have a son in college, who is very talented and gifted. He is very intelligent and had almost perfect scores in SAT/ACT. He also received National merit scholarship. But he has severe organizing problem. ( he also has some sensory issues with food and texture, noise and motor coordination)He could manage in the school, although the grades were inconsistent. But in the college he is having a terrible time in managing his assignments and following the curriculum. Recently he was very depressed as he is not able to do as good as in school. He is in counseling for depression, but I do not think the counselor recognize the problem. If any one know how to get help or get tested for this disorder as an adult, it will be very helpful. Thanks a lot.

Worried Mom
Apr 28, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Reply to: Public School/Gifted Issues Too
by: Anonymous

My son is also in a gifted program but has SPD and Executive Functioning disorders (can't get organized). He is in the gifted program but has accommodations (he sees a resource teacher that helps him organize his homework and assignments).

Write a formal letter to your school requesting an evaluation, noting some of your concerns. They must give you an evaluation. They might say that there is no issues, but you won't know until you try.

Don't let them kick him out of the gifted class if he's not failing that one.
Good luck!
Apr 06, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Hi
by: Anonymous

Hi,
Most of these kids are gifted it takes a special kind of intelligence to navigate the world with sensory problems. The reason we use OT is to teach the kids how to self regulate. Your mom's right he'll need to be out in society working soon, so if he can find tools to help him master his behavior and surroundings the better. Encourage him to seek what makes him work to his best ability.
Apr 06, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		Public School/Gifted Issues Too
by: Anonymous

I have a 12 year old son in 3 TAG (Talented and Gifted) classes at a public middle school. He can't keep his binder organized to the point that he failed Spanish. One of the teachers at his school wants him dismissed from the TAG class even though he is making the grades.

It was suggested that he may have SDD. I have looked at the checklist and he has a lot of checks on the list.

I'm not sure what to do. Home schooling is not my forte. I don't want to go against his teacher but dumbing down his class does not seem to be the right action.

Any suggestions?
Apr 04, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Boys like ours
by: Leigh2530

Your son sounds like mine. He is 8yrs old and we are homeschooling. Last year he hated school and his teacher put him on special literacy and math plans (although he had straight A's). He had such a difficult time at school that we had a cognitive skills test performed on him. Turns out that he is gifted but has a processing speed delay. When we got his Iowa test scores back it confirmed the gifted results. His teacher and principal were dumbfounded with the results.

Working with him at home has opened my eyes to so many of the intricacies of his mind. He needs so much tactile/ sensory stimulation but is hyper sensitive to noise and light. I would say that he would never be diagnosed with anything but ADHD (which his teacher last year suggested he be treated for) if it had not been for my online research. He is fun and creative...... the kind of person who bursts into a room and either you love him or can't stand him. That combined with his giftedness makes for a student that will run any classroom teacher ragged I guess. At home I can add so many hands on activities that he stays interested in school. Homeschooling is the answer we needed.

Hope you find the right school for your son... good luck!!

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