Health and Psychology

I evaluate children for intellectual functioning often.  The testing for intellect involves administering an IQ test.  I.Q. (intelligence quotient) in general, is an assessment of the ability to think and reason. An IQ score is a standardized way of comparing this ability with the majority of people of the same age. A score of 100 means that compared to these people in the general age group as the person being evaluated have basically an average intelligence.

Most psychologists would say those scoring in a range of 85 to 115 are of a normal intelligence or have an average IQ. Actual IQ score may vary plus or minus several points since it is very difficult to get an IQ score with complete accuracy. Keep in mind, there are many outside factors that may have a negative impact on a score. For instance, if someone is not feeling well at the time of taking the test. Or perhaps being distracted by something on that particular day. Or motivation to do well or not.  These things may affect the score.  Additionally, IQ is not the totality of person's abilities in life. IQ score fails to measure things such as manual dexterity (obviously), musical talent, and a slew of other abilities that may lead one to many different successes in life.  

Many people think that an IQ test provides an IQ score.  That's not correct.  It provides an array of scores for measuring facets of intellect and it may provide a global score as well depending on the measure.  In some cases I suggest that a parent wait on getting their child tested until the child moves into the next age range.  I also suggest that the parent check with the school district their child is or will be attending to find out what tests are accepted.

The major IQ measures are the following:

The Wechsler Scales:  These include the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scales of Intelligence (WPPSI-III), The Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children (WISC-IV), The Wechesler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV).

The Woodcock-Johnson Scales of Cognitive Ability (WJ-III-Cog)

The Stanford Binet (SB-V)

The Comprehensive Test of Non-Verbal Intelligence (CTONI-2)

The Test of Nonverbal Intelligence (TONI-4)

The Leiter International Performance Scale (Leiter-R)

All of the tests use the same scale for measuring intellect.  This means that the test has been normed and the scores have been set so they fit into a "normal curve" or a bell shaped curve.  Most of the tests have a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15.  Those are mathematical formulas to look at how the scores get evaluated.  Most individuals classified as gifted have scores that are 3 standard deviations above average.  That equates to children that are functioning better than 99% of all children (or adults) the same age.  

It's important that children that are functioning better than almost all of their peers get placed in special education classes. When these children are in regular education classes they are easily bored, and often are behavior problems.  In addition they may not be able to move forward as quickly as they could if they were in gifted classes.

Wechsler's classification

IQ Range ("Deviation IQ") Intelligence Classification

>= 130 Very superior

111 - 129 Superior

99 - 110 High Average

90 - 98 Average

79 - 89 Low Average

61 - 78 Borderline

<= 60 Extremely Low

So if you think your child might be gifted, it might help to get them assessed for gifted class placement or for gifted schooling.  Children as young as two years six months can be assessed.