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

by Deirdre V. Lovecky

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1853029645
• ISBN13: 9781853029646
• Release Date: November 2003
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Length: 528 Pages
• Weight: 1.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Adds SO much to understanding of these children!

Yes, Deidre Lovecky writes in an academic style. I appreciate books that don't talk down to parents, but allow us to share in the data the experts have developed without dumbing it down. If you have a gifted child, know that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The chances are very good that you are gifted, too. If you truly have a need for the wonderful information in this book, I suspect you will have little difficulty absorbing the concepts that will help you help your child. Having encouraged parents to boldly go and read this book, I must also comment that whatever you find here that should be acknowledged and coped with by your child's teachers, school administrators, or psychologist, can be easily communicated by getting them a copy with appropriate passages marked. The book IS written professionally and for the benefit of other professionals as well as parents. I first met Dr. Lovecky 14 years ago, and I was impressed then with her insight and interest into children who were gifted and demonstrated difficulties such as ADHD, Asperger's, etc. Her depth of clinical experience and observation has enabled her to develop and share keen insights that will help any parent or professional recognize and help a gifted child with an added exceptionality.

Different Minds is alone in it's class

I am so thankful to Deirdre Lovecky for writing this amazing book. It is a thorough analysys filled with insight and practical wisdom for parents and professionals. On the surface, I was worried the book would be too dry for me to get through. But I find myself turning to it time and again to help me with my 8 y.o. profoundly gifted/ADHD son. Just when I think I've got things figured out and I know how to handle him - BAM! Something else happens and we find ourselves flung into confusion. Different Minds is a go-to reference for those moments: the sticky social issues; the behavioral ups and downs; his moments of unusual, mature insight following a toddler-like tantrum. This book makes me feel like we are less alone and gives me as a parent, a resource to turn to which supplies me with ideas for acting in my child's best interest.

So much information, so little space

If you modified Dr. Lovecky's "Different Minds" to carry the normal amount of information per page as is found on average in books of this genre, it would weigh at least a 100 lbs. As a parent and a professional, I have found Dr. Lovecky's book to be the one I turn to time and again to explain the compexities of twice-exceptional children. Her clear understanding of how different "alphabet soup" issues interact is priceless. Dr. Lovecky offers sound, practical adivice for bringing out the best in almost any child. As a fairly high-level trade book with an abundance of complex material, the text is sometimes slow going. But it is worth the effort! I would recommend this book to parents who already have a basic knowledge of the subject matter. I would make it mandatory reading for all school personnel who place or interact with the children Dr. Lovecky describes. For those who need to start with more basic material, I would highly recommend Tictionary by Becky Ottinger. Although the use of the word Tic implies it is about Tourette's Syndrome, it actually presents a clear explanation of most things related to TS, ADHD, Aspergers, Autism, OCD and more. The Appendix of Ottinger's book is a gold mine.

Must-own and must-read, for parents, teachers, professionals

Different Minds: Gifted Children with AD/HD, Asperger Syndrome, and Other Learning Deficits. Twice Exceptional children, those who are both gifted and learning disabled, are often overlooked by all sides of education. Their achievement is often not low enough to be considered special needs, nor high enough to be included in gifted education. But these children are far from average, and they need particular attention to all of their unique attributes.Deidre Lovecky is considered one of the foremost experts in twice exceptional children. This long-awaited book is a summary of many years of clinical experience and observation, and should in the hands of every parent, teacher, and professional working with this unique population. Different Minds starts with definitions and differences: gifted, AD/HD, Asperger syndrome, and other learning deficits commonly (and not so commonly) diagnosed in the same children. Diagnosis of dual exceptionalities can be difficult, and Lovecky cuts through the overlapping characteristics, with references to DSM-IV criteria. Through case studies, discussion and suggestions, Lovecky offers years of experience and wisdom on how to best nurture these children at home and at school.Different Minds includes chapters on gifted, AD/HD, Asperger Syndrome, cognitive issues, creativity, emotional aspects, social cognition and relationships, moral development, assessment, and resources for parents, teachers and professionals.Different Minds should be required reading for everyone dealing with twice exceptional gifted children.