Different Minds: Gifted Children With Ad Hd, Asperger Syndrome, and Other Learning Deficits

526 Pages·2003·1.57 MB·English

by  Deirdre V. Lovecky

Different Minds
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Different Minds
Gifted Children with AD/HD, Asperger
Syndrome, and Other Learning Deficits
Deirdre V. Lovecky
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia
All rights reserved. No part ofthis publication may be reproduced in any material form
(including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or
not transiently or incidentally to some other use ofthis publication) without the written
permission ofthe copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions ofthe
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms ofa licence issued by the
Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London, England W1P 9HE.
Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part ofthis
publication should be addressed to the publisher.
Warning: The doing ofan unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may result in
both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.
The right ofDeirdre V. Lovecky to be identified as author ofthis work has been asserted by
her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First published in the United Kingdom in 2004
by Jessica Kingsley Publishers Ltd
116 Pentonville Road
London N1 9JB, England
and
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
www.jkp.com
Copyright © Deirdre V. Lovecky 2004
Library ofCongress Cataloging in Publication Data
Lovecky, Deirdre V., 1945-
Differentminds:giftedchildrenwithAD/HD,Aspergersyndrome,andotherlearning
deficits / Deirdre V. Lovecky.— 1st American pbk. ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 1-85302-964-5
1. Gifted children—Mental health. 2. Attention-deficit hyperactivity
disorder. 3. Asperger’s syndrome. I. Title.
RJ507.G55L68 2004
618.92’8589—dc22
2003026799
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN-13: 978 1 85302 964 6
ISBN-10: 1 85302 964 5
ISBN pdfeBook: 1 84642 035 0
Printed and Bound in Great Britain by
Athenaeum Press, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 6
Introduction 9
1. The Gifted Child 16
2. Attention Deficits: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder 42
3. Attention Deficits: Asperger Syndrome 97
4. Cognitive Issues: How Those with a Different Mind Think 150
5. Finding Flow: The Wellspring of Creative Endeavor 206
6. Emotional Intelligence and Emotional Giftedness 247
7. Social Cognition and Interpersonal Relationships 304
8. Moral Development: Moral Reasoning and Compassion 367
9. Issues in the Assessment of Gifted Children with Attention Deficits 410
10. Resource List for Parents, Teachers, and Professionals 469
Appendix A
Diagnostic Criteria
Diagnostic Criteria for AD/HD DSM-IV
Diagnostic Criteria for AS DSM-IV
Diagnostic Criteria for AS (Gillberg and Gillberg) 476
Appendix B
List ofTest Distributors for Professionals 481
BIBLIOGRAPHY 488
SUBJECT INDEX 507
NAME INDEX 521
Acknowledgments
Itisalwayshardtoacknowledgeeveryonewhohelpedinthemakingofabook,
especiallywhenthebookhasbeenlonginthewriting.Iwouldfirst,andforemost,
thankallthoseparentswhoallowedmetoknowtheirliveswiththeirchildren,and
whograciouslyallowedmetouselittlepiecesof whotheyareintheanecdotes.
Without you, there would not be a book.
Iwouldliketothankmyprofessionalcolleagueswhoencouragedthewriting
ofthisbook,especiallyLindaSilvermanandJuliaOsborn.Bothcontributedmuch
oftheirlongexperiencewithgiftedchildrenandlearningdifferencestohelpme
formulate my initial ideas. I would also thank Ellen Winner for helping me to
understand how Theory of Mind might function in gifted children.
John Ratey and Tony Attwood helped me in formulating some ideas about
giftednessandAttentionDeficit/HyperactivityDisorder(AD/HD)andAsperger
Syndrome (AS), especially on what causes AD/HD and AS, and on the topic of
creativity. I value both their friendship and their thoughtful replies immensely.
Myreadersdeservespecialthanks.JuliaOsbornreadthefirstdraftofthisbook
and offered many helpful comments about point of view. She also gave me her
professionalopinionaboutthestrengthsandweaknessesofthenewestWechsler
andStanford-BinetIQtests.RuthBreindelandMaryCoddreadthewholebookin
thefinaldraftandhelpedwithorganizationandwording,nevermystrongpoints.
Both of them, along with Joan Hornsby and Stephanie Machell, have given
friendship and support throughout.
IcouldnothavewrittenthisbookwithoutthehelpofthespecialLibrariansat
Rhode Island College Adams Library and Province Public Library Fox Point
Branchwhohelpedmegetreferencesaswellaslearntoaccessandutilizeonline
services.
IcertainlywanttothankJessicaKingsleyandherstafffortheirhelpinputting
thisbooktogether,andfortheirpatienceasIrewroteit,andthenchangeditagain.
Finally,ofcourse,IthankHoney,mydog,forhersweethelpwithmypatients,
her excellent guarding of the house, and her wonderful companionship.
In memory of the Reverend Thomas E. Ahlburn
who allowed me to share part of his wondrous journey.
I will never forget.
May all beings be happy. Or something like that.

Introduction
The idea for writing this book arose from the frustration of parents discussing
theirgiftedchildren’sattentionproblems.Beingparentsof giftedchildren,and
usually gifted themselves, these parents had an insatiable curiosity about
giftedness,AttentionDeficit/HyperactivityDisorder(AD/HD),AspergerSynd-
rome (AS), Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD), and all theotherparenting
andeducationalissuestheybroughttodiscuss.Whattheywantedwasabookthat
wouldgivetheminformationabouttheirchild’sproblems,andalsowouldhave
helpfulsuggestionsaboutwhattodo,farbeyondwhatIwasabletotellthemina
report or feedback session. There were no such books.
“Why don’t you write a book?” they would ask. So eventually, I decided I
would,becausethereisaneedforabookthatdiscussesnotonlythedisorders,
but also the issue of giftedness and how being gifted amplifies problems or
ameliorates them.
The central themes of this book
Giftedness
This book focuses on gifted children with a particular emphasis on the special
needs and strengths of those with attention deficits. This is a book about
giftednessbecauseapersoncannotbeviewedseparatefromhisorhergiftedness.
Giftednessisn’tapartof aperson,likehaircolor,butallof aperson,morelike
personality. Thus, in each chapter, differing aspects of giftedness are explored,
and certain themes followed. This is not a book specifically about parenting
giftedchildren,orteachingorcounselingthem.Thougheachchapterhassome
suggestionsforparenting,teaching,and/orcounseling,thisbookhopestoshow
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