Table 3 Differentiating Giftedness and ADHD Compiled from Mullet and Rinn [65]
Indicators of Intellectual giftedness | Indicators of ADHD |
|---|---|
Boredom, daydreaming and attentional difficulties in unchallenging learning environments. | Boredom, daydreaming and attentional difficulties in multiple domains. |
Low tolerance for tasks or activities that seem irrelevant. | Low tolerance for tasks or activities that seem irrelevant. |
Extended periods of time spent on topics of self-interest. | Extended periods of time spent on topics of self-interest. |
Discrepancies between intellectual, physical, emotional, and social development. | Discrepancies between intellectual, physical, emotional. and social development. |
Emotional intensity may lead to power struggles with authorities. | Emotional intensity may lead to power struggles with authorities. |
Questions or challenges rules, regulations, customs, and traditions. | Poor impulsive control may cause difficulties adhering to rules, regulations, customs, and traditions. |
High activity levels that is focused and directed, restlessness, may need less sleep. | High activity levels that is random rather than goal directed, restlessness, problems with sleep. |
Tendency to answer correctly when responds impulsively to questions. | Tendency to guess incorrect answers when responds impulsively to questions. |
Prone to social problems and struggles in social relationships. | Difficulties regulating or inhibiting behaviour in social contexts, prone to social problems and struggles in social relationships. |