Abstract

Imagine Dan, an academically precocious 3rd grader who, on standardized tests was performing beyond 97% of his age-mates in reading, language comprehension and math. However, Dan experienced significant behavior problems in school. Emotional outbursts, defiance complying with teacher requests and, occasionally, physically aggressive behaviors made it difficult for Dan to thrive in his classroom.

Twice-exceptionality affects an estimated 6% of gifted children in the U.S. alone. The University of Iowa's Belin-Blank Center and the Iowa Neuroscience Institute are joining forces to better understand the mechanisms and behaviors surrounding twice-exceptionality. Education, psychology, neuroscience, and genetics are brought to bear in an effort to understand twice-exceptionality through multiple lenses.

Selected Publications

  • Casten, L. G., Taylor, R. T., Doobay, A. F., Foley-Nicpon, M., Kramer, S., Nickl-Jockschat, T. Abel, T., Assouline, S., & Michaelson, J. J., (2023). The combination of autism and exceptional cognitive ability increases risk for suicidal ideation. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 197, 1 – 9.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2022.107698
  • LeBeau, B., Assouline, S. G., Foley-Nicpon, M., Lupkowski-Shoplik, A., & Schabilion, K. (2025). Likelihood of whole grade or subject acceleration for twice-exceptional students. Gifted Child Quarterly. Published online first. https://doi.org/10.1177/00169862241302813
  • LeBeau, B., Foley-Nicpon, M., Doobay, A. F., Schabilion, K., Smith, C. L., Berns, A. J., & Assouline, S. G. (2024). Academic, clinical, and psychosocial profiles for high ability individuals with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Roeper Review. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/02783193.2024.2309394
  • LeBeau, B., Schabilion, K., Assouline, S. G., Foley-Nicpon, M., Doobay, A. F., & Mahatmya, D. (2022). Developmental milestones as early indicators of twice-exceptionality. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 194, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2022.107671
  • Michaelson, J. J., Doobay, A., Casten, L., Foley-Nicpon, M., Nickl-Jockschat, T., Abel, T., & Assouline, S. G. (2021). Autism in gifted youth is associated with low processing speed and high verbal ability. medRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.11.02.21265802

INI Collaboration