Twice gifted students with learning problems can go through their entire academic career struggling with school work, but unable to receive services. Â The struggle is primarily encountered on the home front. Â Frustrated children and parents, battle through homework and self-esteem issues that leave everyone exhausted.
Often twice gifted students’ strengths effectively hide their weaknesses. As a result, they do not qualify for services in school and they often go untreated and undiagnosed which greatly impacts their self-esteem. “I’m dumb.” “I can’t do this,” but you as their parent know that is not true.  The frustration of watching your gifted child struggle is one of the most helpless feelings a parent can face. I know I have been there.
So what are the steps for getting the right type of help?
1.) Get a recommendation to a psychologist for a good neuropsychological evaluation to identify your child’s problems or look for resources that have children with similar problems to your child and try to identify the problem yourself. (There are great books and websites)
2.) Match the area of weakness to the type of intervention indicated for the problem.
3.) Identify your child’s learning needs.  Are they shy? Do they do best one on one?  Do they learn best in a group? Do you need a whole academic environment change or simply additional services?  Are they self-conscious of their learning problems and deeply shamed? Do they need counseling in addition to academic services? How do they learn best?
Here is a great resource for parents struggling with identifying their gifted child’s challenge.
https://www.understood.org/en/friends-feelings/empowering-your-child/building-on-strengths/gifted-childrens-challenges-with-learning-and-attention-issues