Gifted vs Autism

[Anonymous]

Some of the traits described in autism sound very similar to traits found in "gifted" students. How do you know if it's giftedness vs autism?

[Anonymous]

A neuropsych.

Also, I disagree with the stereotype that gifted kids lack empathy as a result of the brilliance. My smartest kid is also my most empathetic/intuitive when it comes to emotions and that’s not uncommon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A neuropsych.

Also, I disagree with the stereotype that gifted kids lack empathy as a result of the brilliance. My smartest kid is also my most empathetic/intuitive when it comes to emotions and that’s not uncommon.

Neuropsych evals are expensive. At what point would you consider one for a child that has been identified as gifted, if at all?

[Anonymous]

It’s all labels. What problem or symptom do you see?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s all labels. What problem or symptom do you see?

+1. Labels are helpful if the issue is serious enough that you need more support and the issues are interfering with the person living a happy and successful life. Otherwise, everyone has strengths and weaknesses. You work on the areas that need development with the child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s all labels. What problem or symptom do you see?

Social struggles, becoming more apparent as time goes on (now 8th grade). I've always had to support a lot with nurturing those friendships, but at this age, it falls on the kids more, and she struggles with those skills, or claims that she would rather spend time to herself or doesn't need friends. Maybe it's also that she is about 2 years behind physically/emotionally in maturity.

Lack of flexibility or wanting to try things. And this is not a problem, but it's just a trait- she still engages in many of the things she engaged in as a small child. Playing in sand, collecting found nature and mixing them together, observing a worm for a good 20 minutes, for example.

Lack of time awareness. 1 hour often feels like 5 minutes to her.

General slowness and lack of ability to focus on schoolwork. Homework that should take 50 minutes, quite often takes her 5 hours. But she always gets it all done, and pretty much receives perfect marks in all subjects. The only time she does not is when she forgets to turn something in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s all labels. What problem or symptom do you see?

Social struggles, becoming more apparent as time goes on (now 8th grade). I've always had to support a lot with nurturing those friendships, but at this age, it falls on the kids more, and she struggles with those skills, or claims that she would rather spend time to herself or doesn't need friends. Maybe it's also that she is about 2 years behind physically/emotionally in maturity.

Lack of flexibility or wanting to try things. And this is not a problem, but it's just a trait- she still engages in many of the things she engaged in as a small child. Playing in sand, collecting found nature and mixing them together, observing a worm for a good 20 minutes, for example.

Lack of time awareness. 1 hour often feels like 5 minutes to her.

General slowness and lack of ability to focus on schoolwork. Homework that should take 50 minutes, quite often takes her 5 hours. But she always gets it all done, and pretty much receives perfect marks in all subjects. The only time she does not is when she forgets to turn something in.

Also, struggles in the daily basics. Lacks EF skills. Planning, organizing skills are non-existent. And hygiene stuff continues to be a struggle even at this age and we often have to remind or force her. Forgetting to brush teeth, not brushing hair for literally several weeks. And forgetting to eat. If we are not home to prepare her meals, she simply does not remember to eat. Still has to be reminded to come to the table for meals.

[Anonymous]

It’s never ‘giftedness’. That’s just denial

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s all labels. What problem or symptom do you see?

Social struggles, becoming more apparent as time goes on (now 8th grade). I've always had to support a lot with nurturing those friendships, but at this age, it falls on the kids more, and she struggles with those skills, or claims that she would rather spend time to herself or doesn't need friends. Maybe it's also that she is about 2 years behind physically/emotionally in maturity.

Lack of flexibility or wanting to try things. And this is not a problem, but it's just a trait- she still engages in many of the things she engaged in as a small child. Playing in sand, collecting found nature and mixing them together, observing a worm for a good 20 minutes, for example.

Lack of time awareness. 1 hour often feels like 5 minutes to her.

General slowness and lack of ability to focus on schoolwork. Homework that should take 50 minutes, quite often takes her 5 hours. But she always gets it all done, and pretty much receives perfect marks in all subjects. The only time she does not is when she forgets to turn something in.

Also, struggles in the daily basics. Lacks EF skills. Planning, organizing skills are non-existent. And hygiene stuff continues to be a struggle even at this age and we often have to remind or force her. Forgetting to brush teeth, not brushing hair for literally several weeks. And forgetting to eat. If we are not home to prepare her meals, she simply does not remember to eat. Still has to be reminded to come to the table for meals.

Also, talking and interacting with people in general. Buying something at a store. Asking a teacher for help. Ordering at a restaurant. Asking for directions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s never ‘giftedness’. That’s just denial

When looking at the traits side by side, it is honestly hard to distinguish. If anything, I'd say she is more aligned with the gifted side. She's a straight A student, and tests as gifted and/or advanced in all areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s never ‘giftedness’. That’s just denial

When looking at the traits side by side, it is honestly hard to distinguish. If anything, I'd say she is more aligned with the gifted side. She's a straight A student, and tests as gifted and/or advanced in all areas.

you're conflating two things.

Being smart and being neurodiverse. There is no evidence that just being smart results in abnormal behavior. Lots of people are extremely smart and not neurodiverse. Lots of people are extremely smart and neurodiverse. One does not 'mimic' the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of the traits described in autism sound very similar to traits found in "gifted" students. How do you know if it's giftedness vs autism?

You can have both. You can also be an average person with Autism

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s all labels. What problem or symptom do you see?

Since when is 'labeling' a problem? If you go to the doctor for a physical problem isn't comforting to know what you have?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s never ‘giftedness’. That’s just denial

When looking at the traits side by side, it is honestly hard to distinguish. If anything, I'd say she is more aligned with the gifted side. She's a straight A student, and tests as gifted and/or advanced in all areas.

you're conflating two things.

Being smart and being neurodiverse. There is no evidence that just being smart results in abnormal behavior. Lots of people are extremely smart and not neurodiverse. Lots of people are extremely smart and neurodiverse. One does not 'mimic' the other.

Well, I'm not sure what you really mean by "smart". She's not "smart" when it comes to remembering her teacher's names, or knowing how to problem-solve. But she's extremely book-smart when it comes to random nature facts or her ability to understand the basic tenets of quantum physics.

I'd say that anyone who is gifted is neurodiverse by definition. Giftedness is quite rare and "abnormal" as you say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s all labels. What problem or symptom do you see?

Social struggles, becoming more apparent as time goes on (now 8th grade). I've always had to support a lot with nurturing those friendships, but at this age, it falls on the kids more, and she struggles with those skills, or claims that she would rather spend time to herself or doesn't need friends. Maybe it's also that she is about 2 years behind physically/emotionally in maturity.

Lack of flexibility or wanting to try things. And this is not a problem, but it's just a trait- she still engages in many of the things she engaged in as a small child. Playing in sand, collecting found nature and mixing them together, observing a worm for a good 20 minutes, for example.

Lack of time awareness. 1 hour often feels like 5 minutes to her.

General slowness and lack of ability to focus on schoolwork. Homework that should take 50 minutes, quite often takes her 5 hours. But she always gets it all done, and pretty much receives perfect marks in all subjects. The only time she does not is when she forgets to turn something in.

I don't know why you are jumping to autism, that sounds like ADHD as well.
But in any case, the time for labels is when it is severely impacting her life. Two people could have identical symptoms, one has severe life impacts and one for whatever reason does not, so it's only worth pursuing labels and treatments for the one with life impacts.