Characteristics of Intellectually Advanced Young People

Often profoundly and highly intelligent young people are not properly identified and, therefore, do not receive an appropriately challenging education. Research shows this can lead to underachievement or even dropping out of school – studies indicate that up to 20 percent of all high school dropouts test in the gifted range and that 40 percent of all gifted students may be underachievers (Handbook of Gifted Education, p. 424).

Here are some of the common characteristics of highly intelligent young people:

• An extreme need for constant mental stimulation
• An ability to learn and process complex information rapidly
• A need to explore subjects in surprising depth
• An insatiable curiosity; endless questions and inquiries
• A need for precision in thinking and expression-often answering questions with “that depends...”
• An ability to focus intently on a subject of interest for long periods of time
• An inability to concentrate on a task that is not intellectually challenging, including repetitious ideas or material presented in small pieces
• A tendency toward underachievement, particularly for those who want to “fit in” with their classmates

If you know a young person whom you suspect may have advanced intellectual abilities, go to Getting Started for Parents or www.DavidsonGifted.org/DB to find more about identification and assessment. Some other articles are:

• Frequently Asked Questions About Giftedness
• A Place to Start: Is My Child Gifted?