What are some of the developmental issues of profoundly intelligent children?
Very often profoundly intelligent children have unique developmental needs because their development is “out of sync” with the normal development of their age group. Their advanced cognitive abilities may cause them to perceive the world differently than their age-peers. This may sometimes cause them to feel “different” and socially isolated. Leta Hollingworth, one of the early experts on profoundly intelligent children, observed significant differences in the development of the moderately and profoundly intelligent. After years of research, she identified an IQ range of 125-155 as “socially optimal.” Children scoring within this range were generally well balanced, self-confident, and outgoing; they were likely to become effective leaders because they were able to win the confidence and friendship of their age-peers. However, children with IQs of 160 and above were so different from their age-mates that developmental problems were common, particularly between the ages of 4 and 9. As Ho
