2e (Twice-Exceptional) students are both intellectually gifted and learning disabled. Many different conditions cause learning disabilities, including ADHD, anxiety disorders, dyslexia, among others. While these conditions do not affect general intelligence, they sometimes lead to poor school performance because they impact attention, information processing, memory, or reading comprehension. Often having lopsided skills, a 2e student confuses teachers, parents, and other students, who do not understand why the bright student performs inconsistently. Unfortunately, because of the interaction of giftedness with learning disabilities, people often judge 2e kids as bright but lazy, underachieving, or untalented.

Since 2e students are highly intelligent and creative, it’s very important to find ways to develop these students’ talents without worsening learning disabilities. Specifically, 2e students should bypass their weak skills through compensation techniques, allowing their talents to shine through. These kids have unique learning needs, which require flexibility, creativity, and compassion. An important first step is to get a 2e diagnosis from a neuropsychologist, who will discuss a student’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Parents, teachers, and therapists can then work out strategies to best help the twice-exceptional student. Here is a link to common 2e traits: twice-exceptional characteristics

2e students are often a mismatch for regular schools. Despite their advanced abilities, these students may not test well on academic achievement exams, like the SAT. In fact, 2e students often struggle with basic skills, like spelling or arithmetic. These learners exhibit what psychologist Kazimierz Dabrowski termed overexcitabilities, highly sensitive reactions to stimuli. For example, some 2e kids find certain T-shirt fabrics irritating. Regardless of their struggles, these learners show high potential, when they find an environment that is responsive to their needs. I research new ways to help twice-exceptional students thrive.