By ADHD, Autism4 Comments on What it Means to be Twice-Exceptional

Twice-exceptional students (2e) are children who are both gifted and experience a disability that affects their learning. This disability could include ADHD, autism, or a learning disorder, creating a combination that goes against the popular belief that gifted children are talented in every intellectual domain. Due to the interaction between the giftedness and disability, there are three potential outcomes:

  • The student’s giftedness masks their underlying disability
  • Their disability conceals their giftedness
  • Both their giftedness and disability go unnoticed

Effects

Naturally, these potential outcomes can make school placement highly difficult for these children. They may struggle in areas of gifted classes, but not be adequately challenged by special education classes. This scenario can contribute to emotional and behavioral problems (e.g., anxiety or depression). 

What to Do

Here are some key strategies to help your twice-exceptional student succeed.

At School:

  • Learn your child’s strengths and weaknesses to best understand their learning style.
  • Seek out formal accommodations (e.g., preferential seating) and/or modifications (e.g., reduced homework) through an IEP or 504 Plan. 
  • Work with your child’s teachers for alternate ways to demonstrate their knowledge of a subject (e.g., creating a video instead of writing a paper).

At Home:

  • Create checklists to help your child remain organized
  • Purchase secondary sets of books so they do not have to worry about forgetting their copy at school or home
  • Get your child involved in extracurricular activities related to their gifts/interests
  • Seek out support groups for both your child and yourself

The biggest priority with twice-exceptional children is to encourage their gifts, which will help them develop self-confidence and positive relationships.

Reference:

National Association for Gifted Children. (2019). Twice-exceptional students. Retrieved from https://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources-parents/twice-exceptional-students

4 Replies to “What it Means to be Twice-Exceptional”

    1. Absolutely! Unfortunately there’s often only an emphasis on the problem, which tends to compound the issue.

  2. Great information. I hope parents and teachers take advantage of this information. Great job Dr. Hoffman!

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