Twice-Exceptional (2e)

Twice-exceptional (2e) refers to individuals who show both high intellectual ability or exceptional talent and a neurodevelopmental condition — such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, or others — at the same time. The combination creates a distinctive profile in which strengths can mask difficulties (and vice versa).

2e individuals are often under-identified — high ability obscures the difficulties ("they're too smart to have ADHD"), or the difficulties obscure the high ability ("they're autistic, how could they be gifted?"). The result is that they often receive neither adequate support for their difficulties nor adequate challenge for their ability.

School environments are challenging for 2e students: often understimulating for their cognitive ability, yet without adequate support for their learning and socioemotional difficulties.