Giftedness is a term used to describe individuals who have exceptional intelligence in at least two distinct domains. Gifted individuals may have above-average abilities in areas such as mathematics, music, arts, linguistics, or sciences. Giftedness is not a recognized medical diagnosis, but rather a description of a person's unique intellectual abilities. Gifted individuals may have unique challenges in social and academic adaptation but may also have exceptional achievements in their professional and personal lives.😀

Giftedness is generally assessed based on criteria such as high intellectual abilities, ability to learn quickly and easily, creativity, curiosity, ability to reason in a complex manner, ability to see relationships between things, ability to have divergent thinking, and ability to manage many ideas and tasks simultaneously. However, it's important to note that the definition and assessment of giftedness varies according to sources and experts in the field.

Intelligence quotient (IQ) is a measure of a person's level of intelligence. It is usually determined by taking a standardized intelligence test. The results of these tests are then interpreted using a standard average of 100 and a standard deviation of 15.💯

• IQ levels are as follows: Below 70: Low intellectual ability  
• Between 70 and 79: Below average intellectual ability  
• Between 80 and 89: Average intellectual ability  
• Between 90 and 109: Above average intellectual ability  
• Between 110 and 119: Superior  
• 120 or above: Very superior  

It's important to note that IQ is a simplistic indicator of intelligence and only measures certain forms of intelligence. Additionally, it can vary over time and is not necessarily a reliable indicator of success in life. 

The demand for IQ evaluations of children is increasing in Quebec, with parents seeking the label of "high potential intelligence" (HPI). The push for classes for highly intelligent children announced by the Minister of Education in 2020 has also fueled the demand. Despite this trend, there is no evidence of an increase in the number of highly intelligent children.🧐

"However, there are no more little geniuses than before. And they generally have no more problems than others" assures Mathieu Pilon, neuropsychologist and assistant professor at the University of Sherbrooke, specialist in giftedness.

Most researchers agree that a gifted child has an IQ of 130 or higher, with 2% of children falling into this category. Children with a very high potential intelligence (THPI), with an IQ of 145 or higher, are even rarer, with only 1 in 1,000 children meeting these criteria. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disorders have the same prevalence in gifted children as in the general population.

An evaluation of a child's IQ, emotional maturity, and academic achievement is typically 6 hours long, split into 2 or 3 sessions and costs between $2,000 and $2,500 on average. 🤑 Such evaluations are usually only available through private clinics. Some parents believe that their child's high intelligence is the cause of social and behavioral problems, however, this is not always the case. The neuropsychologist will also assess the child's emotional maturity and academic achievements to determine if skipping a grade is the best course of action. Most of the time, the teacher is the one who suggests skipping a grade. 

“Mathieu Pilon confirms it: attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD) has the same prevalence in the gifted as in the rest of the population. Learning disabilities too; a child can both have a high IQ and be dyslexic or dysorthographic.”

The “diagnosis” of giftedness can be viewed negatively if the child's higher intellectual abilities are not sufficiently taken into account or supported in their school or social environment. This can lead to difficulties in adaptation and integration, as well as problems with motivation and self-confidence. It is important to understand that high intellectual potential can be an asset, but it can also require special attention to help children develop their potential in a positive and fulfilling way. 😌

You must make decisions based on the needs of your child and not to please society. 

 Think about it 😄

References and suggested reading (in French)

https://lactualite.com/societe/douance-la-course-a-levaluation/ 

https://www.miditrente.ca/fr/blogue/la-douance-un-atout-ou-un-defi 

https://www.miditrente.ca/fr/produit/10-questions-sur-la-douance-et-la-double-exceptionnalite-chez-l-enfant-et-l-adolescent