As parents, it can be confusing when your child seems advanced in some areas but struggles in others. You might notice they are incredibly bright, curious, or creative, yet also experience challenges with attention, behaviour, learning, or emotions.
This is where understanding giftedness and twice-exceptionality (2e) becomes important.
What is Giftedness?
Giftedness is more than being “smart” or doing well at school. It refers to children who demonstrate significantly advanced cognitive abilities compared to their same-age peers.
Gifted children often:
- Learn quickly and require less repetition
- Ask complex or deep questions
- Show strong reasoning and problem-solving skills
- Have intense interests or passions
- Display high levels of creativity or imagination
Some gifted children also experience:
- Perfectionism
- Strong emotional responses
- Frustration when tasks feel too easy or too difficult
Every gifted child is different, and not all will appear high-achieving in the classroom.
How is Giftedness Assessed?
Giftedness is formally identified through a standardised cognitive (IQ) assessment conducted by a psychologist.
These assessments measure a child’s:
- Verbal reasoning
- Non-verbal reasoning
- Working memory
- Processing speed
An IQ assessment helps determine whether a child’s thinking and learning abilities are significantly above average. Importantly, it also provides a detailed profile of strengths and relative weaknesses, rather than just a single score.
This information is essential in understanding how your child learns best and what support they may need.
What is Twice-Exceptional (2e)?
A twice-exceptional child is both gifted and has an additional developmental or learning difficulty.
This may include:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- ADHD
- Learning disorders (e.g., dyslexia, dysgraphia)
- Anxiety or emotional regulation difficulties
These children have high potential, but also real challenges that impact their day-to-day functioning.
Why Twice-Exceptional Children Are Often Missed
Twice-exceptional children are commonly overlooked because their profile is uneven:
- Their strengths can hide their difficulties
- Their difficulties can hide their giftedness
For example:
- A child may have exceptional reasoning skills but struggle to write or stay focused
- A child may appear “average” because their strengths and challenges balance each other out
They are often misunderstood as:
- “Lazy” or “not trying”
- Behavioural or oppositional
- Capable but inconsistent
In reality, they need a different type of support.
Signs Your Child May Be Twice-Exceptional
You might notice:
- Advanced vocabulary but difficulty with writing or organisation
- Strong ideas but trouble completing tasks
- Intense curiosity alongside frustration or meltdowns
- High creativity but difficulty following structure
- Sensory sensitivities or social challenges
A key feature is inconsistency, doing extremely well in some areas and struggling significantly in others.
Why Assessment is So Important
A comprehensive assessment helps answer the question:
“What is going on for my child, and how can we support them?”
For gifted and twice-exceptional children, this typically includes:
- A cognitive (IQ) assessment to identify giftedness
- Academic testing to explore learning skills
- Behavioural and emotional assessment
- Observation and parent input
This allows us to understand the whole child, not just one aspect of their development.
Supporting Your Child
Once a clear profile is identified, support can be tailored to your child’s needs.
This may include:
- Extension and enrichment to challenge their strengths
- Support for attention, learning, or emotional regulation
- Adjustments at school
- Strategies to build confidence and reduce frustration
For twice-exceptional children, it is essential that we support both their strengths and their challenges at the same time.
Why Early Identification Matters
When giftedness or twice-exceptionality is not recognised, children may experience:
- Ongoing frustration
- Low self-esteem
- Anxiety or behavioural difficulties
- Disengagement from learning
Early identification allows children to feel understood, supported, and capable.
How We Can Help
At The Daisy Clinic, we provide comprehensive assessments to understand your child’s unique profile, including identifying giftedness through IQ testing and exploring any additional developmental needs.
If you’ve noticed your child is bright but struggling, reach out to the team to see how we might be able to support.
