Why are so many UMC kids "gifted but learning disabled"?
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Anonymous
| I can't get over how often I hear UMC parents of average students describe their kids this way. Yes, I know it's possible to be both gifted and learning disabled, but I have a hard time believing it's really as prevalent as it seems to be in this area. I suspect that many of these parents just can't accept that their kids don't have above average intelligence and they are looking for ways to explain their kids mediocrity in a way that is more palatable to them. |
Anonymous
| Since virtually everyone thinks there kids are gifted, the ones with LD's become twice exceptional. |
Anonymous
|
Because parents want to have smart kids. Parents focus on what junior is good at. “He’s good at math! He’s gifted!”
Then when he performs in the average to above average range they get junior tested. Testing comes back to show that he is strong in math. He has FRI (fluid reasoning) in the gifted range. But...his real IQ (FSIQ) is lower. Not that gifted. Above average. Parents pursue ADHD innatentive diagnosis. (Or whatever LD fits the profile. But ADHD is the easiest.) Presto! He’s 2e. Personally, I believe a 2e child should have a gifted FSIQ. Gifted kids do come with LDs. But they have to be gifted! And one sunscore doesn’t make junior gifted. Everyone has strengths. Either junior is average with a strength in fluid reasoning. Or he has an LD with a strength in verbal reasoning. He’s not gifted. Or 2e. But that’s my opinion. And the parents of juniors out there will argue tooth and nail against it. |
Anonymous
| um because the parents are older? |
Anonymous
| They are not. |
Anonymous
Look at the College forum. A lot of this is about justifying extra help for SATs and college admissions. I'll get flamed for saying that, but it's true. In general, Americans also have a tendency to pathologize weaknesses. There has to be a reason someone is below average...not just statistical reality that some kids will be. |
Anonymous
| Because no one wants average kids. Everyone around here seems to think there kid is super smart or has SN. |
Anonymous
|
Where are you hearing this? People whose kids are doing just fine and not having any issue (i.e., not learning disabilities and no need for greater supplementation because they're advanced) aren't going to post here about their kids, the kids you hear about will be the ones where there's something not working.
As for it being predominantly UMC families, it's because those are the families that have the resources to dig into any sign that something might be going on. For families who are just making ends meet, they don't have a few thousand dollars sitting around to throw at testing to find out that Larla is daydreaming in class is because she's advanced and has ADHD rather than just being "a little spacey." |
Anonymous
|
FISQ 133
dyslexic presto 2E This area has a very high percentage of overacheivers. JDs, MDs, PhDs, multiple masters, all marrying. Therefore, this area will have a higher rate of gifted kids. The 2e thing is new to me. My DC was having trouble in school, got tested, and this is the Dx. Now the ADHD thing I'm not so sure about. I think if the LD is treated, the ADHD will go away but only time will tell. Why so many LDs? 10% of all kids have dyslexia. Not sure the rate on ADHD or HFASD. IQ and those things can be mutually exclusive. Also, 2e kids are wired different. I'm hoping is happy no matter life choices but mean mommies like you should be ashamed of yourselves and the mean things your kids say to mine. |
Anonymous
The SN forum is full of people who want neurotypical kids. |
Anonymous
| Here’s the real reason. So they can get accommodations in the classroom and EXTENDED TIME on tests. Who wouldn’t want their child to get unlimited time for the SAT if they could come up for a phony reason that they need it! |
Anonymous
I have followed this forum for sometime. I do not hear much about it here. But on a couple of threads in the college forum related to the admissions scandal there are lot of parents posting about how their 2e kid needs all the testing accommodations, which they fear will get even harder to get because of the scandal. They are also a number of posts about how paying for college consulting services are a necessity for their kids |
Anonymous
Again, the people who are facing legitimate issues are far more likely to post about it than people who aren't having issues at all. It's a bias in who participates in those discussions that doesn't reflect actual statistics. |
Anonymous
This. And also because 2e kids can also present as average -- their giftedness masking/compensating for the LD -- and only a certain type of parent will dig into that and get help. And that's the kind of parent who frequents DCUM. |
Anonymous
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In part because we now pathologize cognitive differences that can be part of superior intellectual performance: ADHD, autism, even dyslexia. These are often genetic, so someone who succeeded with these characteristics to become UMC will pass them down. Also these cognitive differences do some with downsides and weaknesses, so parents who struggled as kids (even if they ultimately succeeded in college and career) now want to help their own kids do better.
Definitely also an aspect of anxious helicoptering too, though. |