Prevalence of Emotional, Intellectual, Imaginational, Psychomotor, and Sensual Overexcitabilities in Highly and Profoundly Gifted Children and Adolescents: A Mixed-Methods Study of Development and Developmental Potential

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence of the five forms of overexcitability in children ages 4–13 years who were previously identified as highly or profoundly gifted via a Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) score of 140+. The prevalence of overexcitabilities included an examination of the development and developmental potential according to Dabrowski’s human development theory. The results of this study provided an estimate of the prevalence and distinct types of overexcitability among highly-profoundly gifted young people. These findings will aid the inclusive identification and support of highly-profoundly gifted children and adolescents and help curb historical misunderstanding, misidentification, and misdiagnosis. The mixed-methods study included 88 study participants (parents) from the United States and Belgium who completed the Overexcitabilities Questionnaire II, Adapted (OEQ II, Adapted), the Development and Family History Questionnaire, and a semi-structured interview. The most prevalent OE profile was all five forms of overexcitability—emotional, intellectual, imaginational, psychomotor, and sensual—exhibited a lot of the time or most of the time. Nearly all (99%) of the highly-profoundly gifted children expressed combinations of three or more higher-level overexcitabilities including emotional, intellectual, and imaginational. A holistic assessment of overexcitabilities and giftedness by a professional trained in profound giftedness is warranted for unidentified children and adolescents with behaviors and development similar to the identified highly-profoundly gifted children examined in this study. To aid in the inclusive, early identification of giftedness and highly-profoundly gifted children, universal screening is recommended for all children entering kindergarten.