Is Giftedness Neurodivergent? Understanding the 2e Paradox

TL;DR: Is giftedness neurodivergent?

• The Verdict: Yes, giftedness is a form of neurodivergence characterized by asynchronous development and intense sensory processing.
• The 2e Connection: When giftedness coexists with ADHD or Autism, it is called Twice Exceptional (2e).
• The Challenge: High intelligence often masks struggles (Shadowing), leading to autistic burnout and chronic exhaustion in 2e adults.

 Is giftedness neurodivergent? The short answer is yes; giftedness is a form of neurodivergence. It refers to a brain that develops asynchronously, meaning your cognitive abilities may be significantly advanced while your emotional or sensory processing develops at a different pace. When it is paired with a diagnosis like ADHD or Autism, it is known as being twice exceptional (2e). 

In my clinical practice in Toronto and in my own life, I've seen how giftedness can act as a cloak. For years, I was able to do things most ADHDers struggle with—I had a strong working memory, decent school grades, and I was always on time.

My gifted traits made the impact of ADHD nearly invisible. But this 'external success' came at a high internal cost. I had chronic anxiety, perfectionism, and eventually, total exhaustion. This is the reality of being twice exceptional: you aren't 'fine,' you are high-performing while burning out.

So, the question is, is being twice exceptional (2e) really a gift?

Redefining High Ability. What Does Gifted Mean in 2026?

In the 2020s, we have moved past the outdated views of the 90s that gifted means "a high IQ score" and into a recognition of neurodevelopmental differences. A brain can be advanced in logic but delayed in sensory or emotional regulation—this is what we mean by "gifted".

The leading experts in neurodivergence classify giftedness as a form of neurodivergence due to high intensity and atypical processing.

Understanding the Twice Exceptional (2e) Brain

Defining 2e: The Dual Identity

Typically, 2e looks something like this:

Exceptionality 1: (Giftedness) High intellectual ability, creativity, or specific talent.

Exceptionality 2: This can include ADHD, Autism (ASD), Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, or Sensory Processing Disorder.

When a person has both types of exceptionalities, they experience the world in unique ways—often in ways that clash internally. The result is a completely different way of processing the world.

The Paradox of Ability

Traditional intelligence is viewed as a flat line, so if you are good at math, you are expected to be organized in your homework. For a 2e individual, the profile is jagged.

This paradox often leads the individual to be labelled "lazy" or "unmotivated" because observers assume that if they do the "hard" stuff, they should easily be able do the "easy" stuff. In reality, their brain simply lacks the executive function or sensory integration to match their intellectual output.

The Masking Effect & Giftedness

Why are 2e people so hard to find? It's due to a phenomenon called Masking or Shadowing, which usually happens in one of three ways:

Strength masks weaknesses

For example, with myself, I was able to mask some of my ADHD symptoms by using my high cognitive ability to "brute force" the organization and focus that ADHD usually impairs.

Because I performed well in school, my ADHD became invisible to teachers, even though I looked like a high achiever on the outside, on the inside, I was working twice as hard to maintain that appearance.

Weakness of masking

Eventually, this caused my battery to die, and I experienced autistic burnout, and the mask fell. My symptoms became obvious because masking was no longer an option for me. This left me feeling less like a high achiever and allowed me to recognize my limitations.

Mutual Masking

Before my "burnout," my giftedness and ADHD "cancelled each other out." I, like so many other gifted people, was able to perform at a high grade level, and appeared perfectly fine to everyone around me. Even still, internally, I was under-stimulated and overwhelmed.

For people like me and others, masking can present serious challenges and often prevents us from seeking support for our disability, and leaves us without enrichment for our giftedness.

Another phenomenon gifted people experience is Tall Poppy Syndrome, which can have a big impact on our lives. Read more about Tall Poppy Syndrome to see if it's contributing to your exhaustion.

Giftedness vs Autism & Navigating the Overlap

High-IQ individuals on the spectrum often treat social interaction as a systems-based problem rather than an intuitive process. This is a sophisticated form of masking. Getting lived-experience autistic support is critical for these people.

The pattern recognition trap

Social Algorithms

Instead of "feeling" the flow of conversation, a gifted autistic person may use their high-speed processing to run a mental script: "If Person A asks about my weekend, I must provide two details and then ask, 'How about you?" to maintain the social loop.

The Cost

Because they are using cognitive "horsepower" to perform tasks that are subconscious for others, they often experience extreme autistic burnout. Like I did, socially, they are considered eccentric but capable, hiding the fact that they are mentally exhausted by the sheer computation required to "stay in character".

Intensity vs Sensory Overload

Both gifted and autistic individuals are considered "intense," but the root causes are subtly different.

Why Diagnosis is Delayed

Giftedness vs autism is a difficult clinical distinction for generalist therapists because high intelligence acts as a compensatory shield.

For example, a child who speaks like an adult is often praised for being "mature" or "precocious," which can mask autistic traits such as pedantic speech or a lack of age-appropriate social reciprocity.

Additionally, gifted people can often pass eye-contact tests or mimic social norms through sheer intellectual effort; they don't meet the "obvious" diagnostic criteria in a brief clinical observation.

Giftedness and autism are not mutually exclusive. When they co-occur, the giftedness often makes autism invisible to the untrained eye, while the autism makes the giftedness feel like a burden rather than a gift.

The ADHD Intersection—Being Gifted with ADHD

For a while, 2e people can survive on the "battery life" of their intellect to perform their executive tasks. While a standard "neurotypical brain" uses executive function pathways to organize, prioritize, and initiate tasks, the 2e individual uses their high-level processing to bypass broken circuits.

For example, you may struggle with getting started on a task because your brain is short on dopamine. Your "gifted brain" might create complex mental games or use high-stakes pressure to generate adrenaline.

While this might work for a while, it consumes a massive amount of cognitive energy. You aren't just doing a task; you are also manually powering the energy you need to complete it.

When The Mask Falls Off

Giftedness has two sides, but without support, all roads lead to burnout. Here's what that looks like:

Panic productivity

• High-stakes deadlines
• Imposter shields
• You feel like success is a fluke, which leads to long-term anxiety

Autistic burnout

• Inability to handle noise, make eye contact, or even perform "gifted."
• Neurological shutdown, which is a biological shut-off to prevent damage
• The energy required to "act normal" is no longer available to the brain

The physical toll

• Tired but wired because the 2e brain stays in "high beta," making deep sleep impossible
• Poor interoception, making it difficult to know if you are hungry or ill
• Chronic inflammation, leading to migraines, digestive issues (IBS), or mystery pain

Finding Therapy for Gifted Adults in Toronto

The Greater Toronto Area is a pressure cooker for sectors like tech, law, and finance, where giftedness thrives. 2e adults in Toronto do well in these career fields because they require competence. However, they also often suffer in silence, as we covered above.

Many 2e professionals are terrified to seek help because their identity is tied to being the smartest person in the room. Admitting to executive function struggles at a high-stakes Toronto firm feels like a career death sentence.

Traditional therapy can be great for treating things like generalized anxiety that comes with being a 2e adult, but it doesn't address the core issues. Specialized therapy can, however.

Look for clinicians in the GTA who explicitly list terms like neurodiversity-affirming or "gifted 2/e" in their specializations.

In my practice, I help individuals with twice exceptional giftedness reclaim their authenticity and transition from performance to a sustainable, unmasked life. If that sounds helpful to you, I warmly invite you to schedule a meet'n'greet with me to see if we're a good fit.

Is Being Twice Exceptional Really a Gift?

So, is giftedness neurodivergent? Yes, and it is also a gift if we understand it to stop the internal redlining that often comes with it. If you've spent your life feeling like you're too much or not enough at the same time, you aren't broken—you could be twice exceptional.

Explore how therapy for gifted adults can help you decode your 2e identity, manage intensity, and build a life that actually fits your brain.

Blog Disclaimer

This blog includes occasional personal anecdotes used to illustrate therapeutic ideas and foster connection. All identifying details have been altered or omitted to protect confidentiality. These reflections are intended as examples only; every individual’s experience is unique, and what resonates for one person may not apply to another.

The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have concerns about your health or well-being, please consult a qualified healthcare provider or licensed mental health professional.

Psychotherapy services described on this site are available to residents of Ontario. If you are interested in support or would like to schedule a complimentary 20-minute consultation, you are welcome to contact me through my practice.

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