Author name: Marisa Ramia Bacon, M.A., LEP

A twice-exceptional, or 2e, child demonstrates advanced ability or potential while also having a disability or meaningful learning difference. Giftedness may coexist with ADHD, autism, dyslexia or another disability. Because strengths and challenges can mask one another, neither side of the child’s learning profile may be visible. Key takeaways Twice-exceptionality describes advanced ability alongside a

A bright child can struggle because school success requires more than understanding complex ideas. Students must also develop academic skills, sustain attention, organize materials, manage time, produce work efficiently and regulate emotions. Difficulties in any of these areas-or a mismatch between the learner, instruction and environment—can affect school performance. Key takeaways Intelligence and school performance

ADHD and anxiety can look similar in children because both can affect attention, homework, classroom participation, emotional regulation, sleep, school performance, and behavior. ADHD often involves difficulty regulating attention, impulses, activity level, and executive function, while anxiety often involves worry, fear, avoidance, perfectionism, reassurance-seeking, physical complaints, or distress in specific situations. Parents may notice distractibility,

An ADHD assessment looks at whether a child’s attention, impulsivity, activity level, and day-to-day functioning fit an ADHD profile, while an executive function assessment looks more closely at skills like planning, organization, working memory, task initiation, time management, flexibility, and follow-through. Many children with ADHD also have executive function challenges, but executive function difficulties can

A psychoeducational assessment usually focuses on how a child learns in school, while a neuropsychological evaluation looks more broadly at how brain-based functions affect learning, behavior, attention, memory, and daily life. For many families, a psychoeducational assessment is the right starting point when the main concerns involve reading, writing, math, processing speed, school performance, learning