Behavioral Problems in Hi IQ 8 year old

[Versa]

My grandson has had behavioral problems in school and at home since approximately age 3.   He ran away from preschool at age 3. He is now 8 years old and his public school is at their wits end with him and it's only the first week of school.  Some things that are noteworthy:  His IQ is 197. He has bitten his left hand in the soft fleshy part below his thumb and index finger since age 2 and has a large (size of a 50 cent piece) scar there.  As a small boy he would shudder while biting his hand.  He continues to bit his hand occasionally but not to the point of creating an open wound as in the past and the shuddering has stopped. He claims he must do it to feel better and it doesn't hurt because there is no feeling there, presumably because it is all scar tissue now.  This middle child can be a "good boy" in one-on-one situations; however, when with his 3 year old little sister and his 10 year old sister he is usually starting fights.  He "attacks" his older sister on the school bus -- hitting, kicking and name calling.  She is embarrassed to be his sister in school. He was sent to the principle's office the first week of school for threatening a classmate that if she didn't "shut up" he was going to jam a pencil down her throat.  His school work is sloppy and he hates school.  I contend he is not being challenged sufficiently and should be in a gifted school program, probably at a private school.  Additionally, the parents are working with a doctor on neurological issues they hope will stop the hand biting.  He's been to many counselors and none do any good. . . he disrespects them all and they give up.  He tells his older sister, "I like to see how far I can push adults."  Any suggestions, PLEASE.


This discussion is related to What is a normal IQ in children.

[Sandman2]

   Versa posted almost 5 years ago.  Kind of doubt that she is still around, but thank you for trying to help.  What I am really curious about is how you stumbled across this post?

[PollyDactyl]

197? Based on what? A cereal box? I am currently sitting across form a child psychiatrist who assures me that the score you've given is (very) highly improbable. By what means was this child tested? There is a certain point at which these tests max out. What test does any reputable psychologist use that goes that high? Einstein was thought to have an IQ of 160. Mozart's was believed to be 165.

She also tells me that you might consider autism. Often what looks like brilliance is actually autism (not that autistic children can't be very bright). She advises that you not put too much emphasis on his apparent brilliance as the pressure caused by that expectation could very well cause a child to do things like what you're describing. She has suggested an IEP. Now before you say to yourself, "but my grandchild is brilliant", let me tell you this: I have an IQ of 140 and needed an IEP to deal with anxiety. She has a patient with an IQ of 160 who is on an IEP. They can really help bright people. It also helps if the child is not treated as a novelty or a dog-and-pony show. Regardless of how brilliant your grandson is, he is still a kid and he is NOT meant to be shown off. Please think of the children. She advises that you have him tested every three years to check for 'scattering". By the time he's 14, you should have an accurate picture of his abilities. IQ tests for young children are notoriously unreliable. Based on your description of his behavioral issues, she says it sounds like he has problems unrelated to his high IQ.

If your grandchild's IQ is really 197, a typical gifted program--even in a private school--will not do the trick and with his history of behavioral problems, most won't take him.

[margypops]

I agree with you and he is not being challenged enough, is there not a program for gifted children  where he lives, have you told your Family to check that out.He also could do with his Parents setting some bounderies and having reprisals for the Bad behavior,perhaps as they know he is a gifted child they feel that allows him to act out, he would feel happier if he was made aware he cannot behave like that, and at 8 year old he can still have time out.However if he has plenty of work occupying his Brain it could solve itself, there are 2 Issues here .that should be addressed.