Gifted, ADD, or both? Response to Intervention (RTI)

[Jasmine]

I am the parent of a child who is gifted, but is being evaluated through the RTI process upon my request due ADD type behavior. It does run in my family, and we thought it would be the first step in figuring out our son's issues. However, the school does not seem interested in involving the parents or making them aware of the time tables for each step in the process. We have made numerous inquiries, but still are getting no response as to the step by step procedures. One of these requests pertained to what resources or materials the county had regarding a gifted child and ADD. There are just a few sites with this information. Is the RTI really effective for this type of evaluation? How does one really discern between gifted, ADD, or both? My son has good grades. He reads above grade level, but showed virtually NO improvement in reading after six months in the third grade.

[Kevin_K]

See http://giftededucation.ning.com/forum/topics/gifted-add-or-both-res...
for information about your request. This is probably the best collection of information about your question that you'll find.
There isn't much about RTI and gifted students---the philosophy of RTI is that the highest tier is the standard curriculum.

[Melissae Stiles]

What state are you in? Kansas has guidelines where parents are supposed to be involved.

[Jasmine]

I am in Georgia. I finally had to "pop in" on the principal to get a response. This was after four inquiries with no response. The school has started my son on tier two, which will give some modifications. Because he is extremely bright and scores above average on tests, he will most likely not qualify for th 504 in the end-- that's not an issue for me, provided the teachers are willing to try out and use the interventions they find work. He seems to be the primarily innattentive type who fidgets, but does not disrupt the class. He compensates by tapping his feet, bouncing in his seat quietly, and rocking. We're considering going the private route to have him evaluated by a psychiatrist just so we know for sure if it's ADD. In the meantime, my husband and I are reading more about strategies to help him. Hopefully this process will help us learn more about how our son thinks and works best. I just wish there was a way of discerning what is due to being gifted and what might be due to being ADD.

[Ginger Lewman]

I agree with Melissae. It will be helpful to know what state/country you're in so we can better direct ideas your way. While RTI (called MTSS in KS) is pretty universal, the way it's implemented can be modified by State Departments of Education.

Here is what Kansas has to say about our MTSS/RTI implementation. Also, check out this pdf: State Policy on MTSS (RtI) for Parents.

[Nancy Bosch]

Kevin, I think you linked back to this discussion???

Jasmine, I am by no means an expert but have opinions after teaching gifted kids for 25 years. The main question you need to ask yourself is 'are my son's behaviors interfering with him working to potential?' Remember, ADD and ADHD is a medical diagnosis, I would not leave it up to the school to determine whether your child has one of these conditions. Would you let your child's school diagnose diabetes? asthma?

You need to take charge. Take your kiddo to a recommended physician who specializes in kids with attention and focus issues. Once you get a diagnosis (or not) then you can move forward with the gifted issues.

Many times gifted kids aren’t typical-looking ADD kids. Most of the distraction is going on inside their heads. How can a person learn, concentrate and focus if they are building Legos, playing video games or re-enacting a favorite book in their head.

Most of the time gifted kids, even with ADD, will score high on IQ tests and standardized achievement tests---so some documentation may help you understand what is going on. Good luck in your fight---remember you are your child’s best advocate. If you don’t fight for him, who will?

[Kevin_K]

Foo---bad cut and paste. Let me try again.

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/adhd.htm

[Nancy Bosch]

Kevin, Funny, I was going to attached the same link!!!

[Jasmine]

Thanks. He has an appointment with his pediatrician next week. I'll ask for a referral at that time to a specialist.

[Nancy Bosch]

Excellent, you are on your way!!

[Ginger Lewman]

Medical diagnosis not being left to the school. Great point Nancy! I think you're right on.

Additionally, Jasmine, be sure your physician understands how ADD/HD and giftedness can coincide and that we don't want to take the gifted excitement for learning out of him. And while Dr. may talk about meds, be sure you've looked at all your options. Sometimes meds are a great thing, and sometimes they're not always needed. Be sure you don't swing to one side of the debate and get stuck there. Some physicians don't understand the twice-exceptional (2e) piece of giftedness and have trouble making accurate diagnoses.

[Nancy Bosch]

Ginger, I read about a new study in the paper this week that said the drugs alone don't seem to make a different after two years--did you see it? Therapy was a big part of a successful regime. I can't find the online reference.

[Ginger Lewman]

Nope, I didn't see it, so I looked it up now. Here's a link to the article in the Washington Post, and here's one MD's opinion and analysis of the actual study.

Here's more info directly about the actual study, called the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children With Attention Deficit and H....

I don't know what to think about the study or the articles, but I do know that kids I've worked with who've really learned about themselves and their characteristics seem to be able to handle their situations much better later on down the road.