Dabrowski's Sensual Oberexcitability

Abstract

Sensual OE can be demonstrated by heightened aesthetic and sensory enjoyment and/or displeasure coming from the five senses of hearing, taste, smell sight and touch. For instance viewing an emotional play or musical concert may move a child with this OE to tears, while another without this OE may simply enjoy the play or concert but not necessarily ‘feel’ the emotion nor display it openly.

Sensual OE may present as emotional stress such as overeating or wanting to be the centre of attention. This also has implications in the classroom where students may use attention seeking behaviours, such as calling out, which can be viewed by the teacher as nuisance behaviour.

Children with Sensual OE can regularly feel uncomfortable when there are many sources of sensory stimuli as often occurs in a busy, noisy classroom environment. These gifted students often experience trouble sorting out what they smell, feel or hear and this can make them easily distracted and seemingly impulsive (which may or may not be associated with ADHD). Some of these gifted students become so overwhelmed that they often withdraw from situations or stimuli.