WATG22

Myths and misunderstandings about overexcitabilities abound in gifted education, and launching gifted learners can stall if we don’t work to update our knowledge about common terms applied in the field. In this session, we will talk about the origins of OE and Dabrowski’s theory of positive disintegration, and clarify its application in gifted populations. Of critical importance is putting an end to the belief that a child has either OE or ADHD. Acknowledging the construct of overexcitability as a broad umbrella that includes multiple types of neurodivergence is the most appropriate way to continue the discussion about OEs in the field.