Different Minds: Gifted Children with AD/HD, Asperger Syndrome, and Other Learning Deficits

Through recognizing the different levels and kinds of giftedness, this book provides an insight into the challenges and benefits specific to gifted children with attention difficulties. Explaining why certain children are gifted and how giftedness is manifested, each chapter on a specific topic addresses the relevance for children with AD/HD and Asperger Syndrome. Lovecky guides parents and professionals through methods of diagnosis and advises on how best to nurture individual needs, positive behavior and relationships at home and at school. Lovecky explores concepts such as asynchrony and the effects of such 'uneven' development on children, using case studies to illustrate emotional, intellectual, creative and social development. She also highlights the inadequate measures currently in place to assist parents and teachers and goes on to clearly define what is required to understand and help these children so that their needs can be met more positively in the future. Different Minds, with its wealth of practical and background information, is essential reading for all those who live or work with gifted children with attention difficulties.

Table of Contents:
Introduction. 1. The Gifted Child. 2. Attention Deficits Part I: Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder. 3. Attention Deficits Part II: Asperger Syndrome. 4. Cognitive Issues: How Those with a Different Mind Think. 5. Finding Flow: The Wellspring of Creative Endeavor. 6. Emotional Intelligence and Emotional Giftedness. 7. Social Cognition And Interpersonal Relationships. 8. Moral Development: Moral Reasoning and Compassion. 9. Issues in the Assessment of Gifted Children with Attention Deficits. 10. Resource List for Parents, Teachers and Professionals. Appendix A: Diagnostic Criteria for AD/HD DSM-IV (Table 1). Diagnostic Criteria for AS DSM-IV (Table 2). Diagnostic Criteria for AS (Gillberg and Gillberg) (Table 3). Appendix B: List of Test Distributors for Professionals. References. Index.

About the Author :
Deirdre V. Lovecky PhD is a clinical child psychologist at the Gifted Resource Center of New England, specializing in the needs of gifted children, adolescents and their families. She is a qualified psychotherapist and consultant, speaks at conferences and presents workshops for parents and teachers. She has had many articles published in academic journals and regularly writes on the topic of giftedness.

Review :
' This is a well-structured book. There are nine chapters; the first gives an overview of gifted children and theories of giftedness. The next two chaoters provide a general description off AD/HD and Asperger before going on to give detailed information on gifted children with these conditions. The following chapters look at cognitive aspects and learning styles, creativity, emotional intelligence, social cognition and moral development. The final chapters discuss issues around assessment and highlight the resources available. The author also includes useful appendices on diagnostic criteria.' - Community Practitioner 'In addition to case studies and research findings, Different Minds offers practical strategies and ways in which young people can be supported, both to develop their intellectual abilities and to help them feel accepted in society... This is an absorbing read crammed with observation and detail. Did you know, for instance, that difficulties with social interaction increase in line with IQ? Children with higher IQ's (180-plus) find their age peers "a mystery, because they're so different in interests, speed of learning, ability to understand complex material and desire to learn."...Different minds is a valuable addition to the information already available in this field.' - Children Now