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2023 GHF Conference Day 3 Event 7: Paul Beljan, PSYD, ABPDN, ABN

May 11, 2023 By Katherine Turner

Paul Beljan PSYD, ABPDN, ABN, presents Misdiagnosis / Differential Diagnosis of Gifted Children

ADHD, ODD, OCD, Short Term Memory Deficit, Sensory Integration Deficit, and Auditory Processing Deficit represent the most over-diagnosed disorders among the gifted population. Some of the most under diagnosed problems have to do with academic learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia. This lecture will discuss how easily gifted children are over or under diagnosed and how their expression of asynchronous development complicates the problem.

The top diagnoses asked about by parents in my private pediatric neuropsychology practice are: short term memory deficit, processing speed deficit, central auditory processing deficit, sensory integration deficit, oppositional defiant disorder, and dysgraphia. More often than not, these disorders are not present. This presentation reviews these diagnoses and offers simple and logical methods for how to determine if they really exist in the child or not. We will further discuss other common mis-diagnoses of children and I will offer suggestions for what is involved in an appropriate neuropsychological evaluation that parents should look for when having their child evaluated.

Learning Objectives: • Listeners will learn why short term memory deficit, processing speed deficit, central auditory processing deficit, sensory integration deficit, and working memory deficit are probably the most over-diagnosed disorders among the gifted population. • Listeners will learn why these diagnostic errors are easy to make. • Listeners will learn very simple methods for how to rule out each diagnosis. • Listeners will learn about common mis-diagnoses of gifted children. • Listeners will learn about what constitutes an appropriate evaluation to rule-in or rule-out these diagnoses.

Dr. Paul Beljan is a pediatric neuropsychologist practicing in Scottsdale, AZ. He is a past president of the American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology (ABPdN). He holds child diplomate with ABPdN and adult diplomate with the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology (ABN). In 2016, Dr. Beljan completed a post-doctoral master’s degree in psychopharmacology from New Mexico State University. Dr. Beljan co-authored Misdiagnosis and Dual Diagnosis of Gifted Children and Adults: ADHD, BiPolar, OCD, Depression, and Other Disorders. He also co-authored Large Scale Brain Systems and Neuropsychological Assessment: An Effort to Move Forward. Dr. Beljan is a nationally retained forensic expert and lectures nationally and internationally.



Please join us for this event! 
You are invited to a Zoom Session for The GHF Gifted Home Education Conference – Come as You Are: Authenticity and Acceptance.
 (Link leads to the event in the GHF Forum – Member Content)

Sunday June 4, 2023 3:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET (US and Canada)

Topic: Day 3 Evening Event for All Learners



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Our goal is to reach and serve as many gifted and 2e families as possible, which is why we have a free level of membership, the GHF Forum Membership, that grants access to all of our live programming, the main areas of the Forum, and our comprehensive, self-paced  DIY Education course. 

For those who are able to support our work, we hope you will join as a GHF Choices Member. Choices Membership is our primary source of income for this non-profit. GHF has no full-time staff and we are just looking to cover our costs. As a thank you, your $49.99/yr tax-deductible membership grants you access to the recording libraries of all of our events, as well as exclusive areas of the Forum.


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Filed Under: 2023 Conference Day 3

PLEASE VISIT THE GENEROUS SPONSORS OF OUR 2023 GIFTED HOME EDUCATION CONFERENCE

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The GHF President’s Club

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