And many gifted students may be underachievers. Or even more. In the competitive world of grades, grades, grades, kids are taking Ritalin to help them achieve straight A's. Proponents of the gifted, however, argue that these kids underachieve for other reasons, the most important being that traditional school environments simply to not appeal to many of the brightest kids. Another reason a gifted child may be labeled ADD is negative behavior in the classroom.
Teachers typically associate giftedness with students who are compliant and obedient.
Thus, teachers are not inclined to believe that a child who is acting out might in fact be gifted. And while there are many things that can result in behavioral problems in gifted students, researchers argue that most behavioral problems are developed in response to inappropriate curricula and instructional methods, or the social climate created by the teacher and classroom peers. Speaking of overexcitabilities, as I write this page I'm having to deal with a colicky infant. ADDers are often described as having been fussy or colicky babies, as if this is proof that there is something wrong with them. A popular theory about colic, or crying spells, is that it has to do with stimulation levels - too little or too much.