Stephanie Tolan, who researches the phenomenon of giftedness, says that "almost every parent I talk to has had to deal with, either as a casual observation/suggestion or as a very serious threat, 'your child can't come to school any more until you have him medicated.'"⁷²

Thousands of children put on psychiatric drugs are simply "smart." "They're hyper not because their brains don't work right, but because they spend most of the day waiting for slower students to catch up with them. These students are bored to tears, and people who are bored fidget, wiggle, scratch, stretch, and (especially if they are boys) start looking for ways to get into trouble," says Dr. Walker.⁷³

Behaviors Associated with Giftedness (1993)

• Poor attention, boredom, daydreaming in specific situations
• Low tolerance for persistence on tasks that seem irrelevant
• Judgment lags behind development of intellect
• Intensity may lead to power struggles with authorities
• High activity level; may need less sleep
• Questions rules, customs and traditions

Compare to Behavior Associated with ADHD (1990)

• Poorly sustained attention in almost all situations
• Diminished persistence on tasks not having immediate consequences
• Impulsivity, poor delay of gratification
• Impaired adherence to commands to regulate or inhibit behavior in social contexts
• More active, restless than normal children
• Difficulty adhering to rules and regulations