Why ADHD, Sensory Processing, and Giftedness Can Look Alike

[AndyJK45]

Very good0- but I think us ADDers have different brains- we see things differently and giftedness is part of the package. Unwrapping that gift is the tricky bit. I was diagnosed at 46 and 3/4, and at nearly 50 now rely on meditation. The medication was great when I needed it though.

[jonesarmywife]

This is my child....now if I can get the Drs. and teachers to LISTEN....

[drseide]

It's not easy figuring out the 'spectrum of normal' vs. 'spectrum of disease'. We have seen kids (and adults) who seem to be strong interest-based learners. Is this a disease? Don't think so - but can still struggle persisting with uninteresting subjects or tasks. May do fine in real life if they find a high-interest career.

In college, high-interest learners often do better at upper division classes and struggle at large survey course requirements.

[kiikasi]

I was diagnosed with ADHD, Aspergers, and Bipolar. At one point they also thought I had ODD. I don't think this is a coincidence. I'm very medicated because of these things, but do I really have them? I'm not going off of concerta because I've built up a phychological dependance on it. I think I might have ADHD? I dunno. I was never good at paying attention to things I don't like.

[captainoats112]

@kiikasi i have ADHD and i can function without it. i can concentrate without it too, but just not on things that don't interest me. weird, eh?

[drseide]

@captainoats112

There really is a pattern of interest-based learning. Dramatic differences in ability to persist depending on the level of intrinsic interest. I think there's going to be a physiological difference that researchers discover.

[momisspunky]

More, we need more. Thank you for all of this wonderful information.