Editorial Review:

Our brightest, most creative children and adults are often being misdiagnosed with behavioral and emotional disorders such as ADHD, Oppositional-Defiant Disorder, Bipolar, OCD, or Asperger's. Many receive unneeded medication and inappropriate counseling as a result.

Physicians, psychologist, and counselors are unaware of characteristics of gifted children and adults that mimic pathological diagnoses. Six nationally prominent health care professionals describe ways parents and professionals can distinguish between gifted behaviors and pathological behaviors.

Features include a Foreword by Ronald E. Fox, Psy.D., Ph.D., Past President of the American Psychological Association, and:

· Written for parents and professionals · Characteristics of gifted children and adults · Diagnoses most commonly given to gifted children and adults · Traits of diagnoses incorrectly given to gifted children and adults · Guidelines to avoid mislabeling gifted children · Parent-child relationship problems · Issues for gifted adults · Advice for selecting a counselor or health care professional

"Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnoses of Gifted Children and Adults" has been endorsed by three past presidents of the American Psychological Association, two neurologists, and two family practice physicians.

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

A must read for parents:

I have read many books on ADHD and gifted children and like many other parents who have read this book and reviewed it here, I also wish I had found a book like this years ago when my son was initially labelled ADHD. Any parent who has a gifted child that is struggling in school under the assumption by teachers and administrators that he or she is ADHD should read this book. Before you let another teacher give you an armchair diagnosis, read the book and better yet, if you get a chance to hear Dr. Webb or... more info

Helpful book recommended to me by Dept of Education:

I found this book to be informative and validating. Our son has been misdiagnosed as ADHD and Aspergers by different professionals taking inputs from us and his teachers. As soon as he was diagnosed with either, we immediately researched and learned all we could. It became clear to us as parents that neither seemed to fit. I even scheduled a private appt with his psychitraist to express my concerns and they dismissed me thinking I was just against him taking meds. Finally after 6 years going through all of... more info

Concerns:

I can see why a lot of parents are ready to embrace this book. It is very difficult to accept that your child is not perfect, especially when you can see how bright he or she is.
The problem with Asperger's, in particular, is that it is a wholly observation-based diagnosis at this point. If you have a child that exhibits signs of Asperger's but then you say "Yes, but gifted kids exhibit these signs, too, so my child must be gifted instead," you are picking one arbitrary label over another and possibly... more info

A Must Read For Those Whose Children Are 'Different':

I just finished reading this book and I am AMAZED that so much of this information applies to my 6 year old son. I had been told that he has Aspberger's by one expert. Now, after being given this book to read by a different expert, I know that he doesn't. It might just be that he is gifted. We have not had him tested as yet, but reading this has taken a huge burden off of my shoulders and has given us a chance to understand why our son is angry and 'different'.
I hope that every parent of a child who... more info

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