2e or not 2e? That is the question

I'm finding it difficult to envisage when, how and why a clinician would diagnose 'giftedness'. They tend to diagnose problems or conditions that are conventionally interpreted as problematic (autism, ADHD, bipolar, dyspraxia etc.). I would have thought that giftedness would not be a problem and that it would be obvious to a layman and not need a clinician to point it out.

Was an IQ test part of your diagnostic assessment? They would probably administer one to determine if you had a "disorder of intellectual development" (as the ICD-11 calls it in their ASD section). If the results were significantly higher than the average (IQ 130+, 98th percentile) you'd, in American parlance, be termed "gifted" (I think they might call it "superior intelligence" on this side of the pond, which is a bit of a loaded term). So maybe "point out" might be a better word than "diagnose" here.

No, there was no IQ test, if a person were considered by clinicians to present as being of average or above intelligence, no IQ test would be offered in an assessment for autism in the UK. Intelligence is not part of the criteria for autism as such and anyone with problems such as intellectual disability would most probably have had these flagged before autism was considered. I had a PhD in molecular biology when I was assessed, so my level of intelligence was not really in any doubt.

I have never behaved in a superior manner, though I was known as 'The Prof' to some of my classmates. Whatever my inner levels of anxiety and social aversion, I always come across as easygoing and calm, so I never was abused for my intelligence. I did suffer a little for my lack of abilities at, and zero interest in, sports, however.

So, at 18 you were clearly academically gifted (in the general sense, anyway). You had potential and you achieved that potential: a PhD in a real science (not like economics, or something).

When you were 18, did you take any abuse for being the smart kid? Or did you keep your head down and stay out of the way of trouble? Or was it never an issue?

A sort of late developer, at age 8 I came 130th out of 138 in my school year, by 18 I got the highest scores in my school year at A-level ('advanced level' of the standard public examinations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - a bit like High School graduation in the US - but usually in only 3 or 4 subjects - more general examinations are taken at sixteen - usually 8 to 10 subjects, which always include English language and maths).

I do not have ADHD, just autism, generalised anxiety disorder, social phobia and a specific form of dyscalculia - I cannot do mental arithmetic, though I'm fine with a pencil and paper.

Martin said:

I had a PhD in molecular biology

Was that something that would have been predicted by your performance in school over the years, or was that a "late developer" thing?

I suppose I'm thinking of people who have intelligence enough to earn PhD, but who have never gotten that far because ADHD made the act of studying impossible.

Martin said:

I had a PhD in molecular biology

Was that something that would have been predicted by your performance in school over the years, or was that a "late developer" thing?

I suppose I'm thinking of people who have intelligence enough to earn PhD, but who have never gotten that far because ADHD made the act of studying impossible.

I have never behaved in a superior manner, though I was known as 'The Prof' to some of my classmates. Whatever my inner levels of anxiety and social aversion, I always come across as easygoing and calm, so I never was abused for my intelligence. I did suffer a little for my lack of abilities at, and zero interest in, sports, however.

So, at 18 you were clearly academically gifted (in the general sense, anyway). You had potential and you achieved that potential: a PhD in a real science (not like economics, or something).

When you were 18, did you take any abuse for being the smart kid? Or did you keep your head down and stay out of the way of trouble? Or was it never an issue?

A sort of late developer, at age 8 I came 130th out of 138 in my school year, by 18 I got the highest scores in my school year at A-level ('advanced level' of the standard public examinations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - a bit like High School graduation in the US - but usually in only 3 or 4 subjects - more general examinations are taken at sixteen - usually 8 to 10 subjects, which always include English language and maths).

I do not have ADHD, just autism, generalised anxiety disorder, social phobia and a specific form of dyscalculia - I cannot do mental arithmetic, though I'm fine with a pencil and paper.