Help me understand test results

[mamabear2three]

Can someone help me understand what's going on with my daughter's test results/academic advancement?

 

She's 6.

WISC scores:

perceptual reasoning 98

verbal comprehension 112

working memory 99

processing speed 91

Full scale 102

 

Tova and Connors Rating scale both had off the charts ADHD, which matched what we are seeing at home, with extreme inattentive issues and almost just as extreme hyperactivity.

 

The Psych seemed satisfied with her scores, said that the processing speed was an outlier and that it pointed to the ADHD. He did say that ADHD can lower the scores on the WISC but he didn't think they'd be too different except for that processing speed and seemed like the bottom line is she's doing fine except for that processing speed/ADHD issue. He did not offer a good answer as to why she is preforming as she is academically:

 

Academic achievement (we have not had her formally tested, this is just where she is functioning at home):

Reading/comprehension: 5th grade level (I have used the QRI-3 to test this)

Math: She finished the first half of Horizons grade 2 in 3 weeks, with mastery. Her conceptual learning happens with an average of 2 examples, very little practice needed. I've switched gears to focus on problem solving, using BA 3A and she is loving it. I am saving the second half of Horizons 2 for when we hit a sticking point in Beast and will sub it in as needed.

 

 

So I've got a child with average intelligence scores, huge issues with inattention/focus (which I knew, and the diagnosis was really more of a relief than a surprise) and yet she is advancing faster in all areas academically than the "average" child is expected to, even with the limitations of the ADHD. How does that work? Is it really just possible for a child with average intelligence to show such aptitude for conceptual learning?

[Embassy]

I've read that intelligence testing is more accurate when the child is a little older.  I'd retest again in a couple years and your results should be more accurate.  Meanwhile, just continue going with her learning pace.

[Runningmom80]

I agree with Embassy, just keep meeting her where she is. 

 

IQ tests are not the end all be all of a child's intellectual abilities, take this from someone who has been analyzing her own kid's scores for the past week. ;)

 

 

[Arcadia]

. I've switched gears to focus on problem solving, using BA 3A and she is loving it.

Have you read about hyperfocusing in the context of ADHD? Problem solving involves paying more focused attention so it might actually be easier for your child then relatively repetitive work.

 

What I have been told is that autism, ADHD and IQ tests are more accurate after 8 for marginal cases. For outliers it would be obvious at an earlier age.

 

I'll just meet your child where she is at and go at her pace. If my hubby has based his intelligence on failing the GATE program screening test, he won't have gotten all his scholarships and PhD.

[raptor_dad]

If you want to tweak IQ scores, I've heard SB-V is less dependent on timed bonuses compared to the Wechsler tests... Maybe that would help <shrug>...

 

But really, why do you care? Why do you need IQ tests? Early school entry, grade skips, gifted programs, or DYS qualification are all reasonable answers... If it is just for your info, I would ignore it and go with your gut. Yes, your kid is gifted/accelerated/whatever. Congratulations/Condolences.

[EKS]

My older son had similar IQ scores at age 7.  He's 2E--dyslexia and ADHD.  We didn't have IQ scores that confirmed he was gifted (HGish even) until he was 12.

 

 

[mamabear2three]

Thanks, I guess in reality it doesn't matter, it's not like we lost a place in some program because she didn't test high enough and really the ADHD diagnosis and recommendations for making life easier in that respect is a huge help in the right direction. 

 

The psych's attitude about the test results were just annoying to me I suppose because I felt they were just not true to what I see academically or personally have experience with. So to say that my daughter has ADHD and that's the issue made me go, uh, yes I see that it is an issue, but that's not the whole picture here... and the psych totally blew me off. 

 

Ok so basically what I've learned here is that the IQ scores are not helpful for anything at this point except for showing me that the processing is low and points to the ADHD, and that she is a strong verbal learner... and otherwise to continue meeting her needs/learning pace as best I can.

 

 

[kiwik]

I don't think he is right about the processing speed being an outlier though - it looks to be in line with the other scores. If you medicate for ADHD you may see an increase in scores but you seem to be doing fine.