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Post by ilovemyboys on Oct 19, 2005 15:25:50 GMT -5
We had testing done on my son and I think the IQ score is pretty low, considering past testing and close family members scores.
Does anyone know if an IQ score really matters?
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Post by d on Oct 19, 2005 18:21:36 GMT -5
Nah, depends how it is used. Subtest scores that make up the IQ can provide good information if they are interpreted and by the right person. Also, for some kids the WISC tests may not be a good measure - there are other tests available but the WISC IV is the most commonly used.
If SharonF stops by, this is one of her favorite topics.
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Post by ilovemyboys on Oct 19, 2005 18:56:05 GMT -5
Yes, it was a WISC test. The tester said that she feels it is very reliable, because of the way the scores were "scattered". My son, however, by the testers own admission, was very negative about the whole process and reallly just wanted to get out of there....
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Post by d on Oct 19, 2005 19:49:32 GMT -5
Stop worrying till you get the scores, ok? There is nothing you can do until you have the eval results and all the scores. Worrying in the meantime will not do anything for you except drive you crazy.
Make sure you get the scores including subtests bc someone may be able to give you more perspective if you want. Scatter is in reference to the scores of the subtests. Also, the tester will probably note your son's resistance in the report if it was highly unusual.
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Post by ilovemyboys on Oct 20, 2005 8:17:42 GMT -5
I did get the scores, and I"m not necessarily worrying, just wondering if they matter....
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Post by Dakotah on Oct 20, 2005 8:31:27 GMT -5
Good morning ilovemyboys. I had to reply to this thread. We had complete testing done on our son (including WISC). I think as a teacher and a mother IQ only matters if you want it to. It could be used as a reason for something. It could be used to qualify for something. It could be ignored. I have decided at this point to ignore it. I was very sad to get our son's results back because his IQ was very low- 85. I am only sad that this may present another struggle for him. We had it retested two years later and it was 90 I think. Both doctors insisted that this test is very reliable. My son is in first grade and is in the "enrichment" or "gifted" group for reading and math. I have decided IQ doesn't matter.
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Post by ilovemyboys on Oct 20, 2005 9:00:47 GMT -5
Dakotah - i'm glad to hear that. It sounds like your school doesn't use IQ to determine placement - I guess thats what I"m concerned with. My son has been in the upper math adn reading groups. Middle school placement is coming next year and I"m hoping they won't be using this to say he should not be in upper classes or something.
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Post by TexasMom on Oct 20, 2005 10:55:12 GMT -5
They need something to determine a child's intellectual abilities. However, IQ tests are not perfect and neither are the people taking them or administering them.
Our son had his first IQ test done in Kindergarten. His full-scale score was 93. Not bad, but not good either. I could see sparks of brillance in him and didn't think that was right. However, I wondered if I was just a wishful mom.
I asked the tester/diagnostician about the testing procedures and a lot of the scoring is subjective. He scored decent on parts that included reading and he couldn't read, in fact, he couldn't even recognize letters! She even told me they have a lot of leeway on some things.
He did not qualify for special education services at that time because the difference between IQ and performance had to be at least 16 points. So having an IQ score that (I felt) was lower than it should be hurt his ability to qualify for Spec. Ed.
As it turns out, our son has a severe auditory processing disorder (falls under dyslexia umbrella) which was diagnosed privately and ADHD. We were able to get him qualified for Spec. Ed. services because of his ADHD the next year, but that was just a back way in as far as we were concerned because his LD was much more severe than his ADHD.
In 4th grade I asked to have him retested. The diagnostician (a different one this time) was hesitant because she said, "IQ's don't change." I told her that I realized that a person's intellectual capacity may not change, but other factors that can affect scores do change. I told her that I didn't have faith in the first one or the first diagnostician either and she relented and agreed to retest but told me, "not to expect much different."
After she tested him and scored his test she called me shocked and surprised that not only had his score gone up, it went up 16 points! That made his full-scale a 109 and some subtests were 118. The funny thing was, because of the huge jump in his IQ he suddenly qualified as LD in almost all areas! With the new testing, some areas had a 40 point difference between IQ and performance.
So, to answer your question... Yes, IQ matters. A persons intelligence determines there level of ability and so that is the most important factor. Also, an IQ score, which may or may not be accurate, is usually the main factor in determining a child's need for services.
If you believe your child's IQ is accurate, then work with it. Help him to reach his full potential whatever that may be. If you think it is not accurate then either ask for another one or ignore it.
My daughter (non-LD and non-ADHD) was tested for the gifted program twice at school. Both times she didn't get in. Whether she is "gifted" or not, I'm not sure. I don't even really care. I am sure that she is very bright, a hard worker, very creative, and "gifted" in many areas even if it isn't the ones they measure. I lost all confidence in the testing though when I saw her scores. She is remarkably in tune to spatial awareness. Always has been. We even joke and call her our "spatial child." Well, on the test, you guessed it, she scored the lowest in spatial awareness! She was even below average on it. I have no idea why. It is flat out wrong! Luckily, that test truly doesn't matter. Most people in our school don't like the gifted program anyway so I wasn't even sure if I wanted her to do it. Thank goodness, there is not some service she needs that will be denied from the faulty testing!
Bottomline...if your son's IQ score is going to deny him services he needs then fight. If not, then don't worry. You know your son better than any test can tell you!
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Post by Mayleng on Oct 20, 2005 11:10:52 GMT -5
Ditto!
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Post by G on Oct 26, 2005 12:32:36 GMT -5
I am so glad i saw this thread today.
I have been having the same feelings since i talked to the girls who did my dd testing.
I do not have the full results back yet.
But like you Dakota, felt sad and hoped this was not another struggle for my daughter.
For now, I am trying not to worry too much about it.
nat
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Post by kc4braves on Nov 10, 2005 15:23:00 GMT -5
I have been reading this and what I keept thinking probably isn't helpful at all but......many people with much higher IQ's waste it away. I know so many people with IQ's much higher than the one's mentioned here and than my own child who barely get by. I often wonder how much of the r "IQ" they are using. I have a decent IQ but I worked my tail off in HS and college...no photgraphic memory here or anything. I also new very bright ( made me look dim) people who didn't apply themseles and nothing came of their huge IQ. I'm not sure it really tells us alot except playing a part where needed services are concerned.
KAthy
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Post by G on Nov 10, 2005 15:47:28 GMT -5
You are right KAthy. I also know of some higher IQ people who have wasted their lives away. Or they have just miserable lives. The ones who usually go for the gusto, and chase their dreams are the ones who are willing to work for it. Didn't "street smarts" beat "book smarts" on the donald trump show?
Grades in a sense don't really matter that much either. It is the learning that matters. I told that to my dd group of teachers on parent night. They looked at me odd. I told them that I care more that my child is learning than the letter grade on her report card.
It is all in how you want to see it, and what means the most in life to you.
Thanks for the good post!!
nat
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Post by Babs on Nov 10, 2005 15:50:43 GMT -5
Schools cannot use IQ and discrepency as the sole criteria for determining eligibility for sped since IDEA 2004 came into effect. Here is the link to an article which I hope will help you determine how big a role your son't IQ scores need to play in getting him what he needs. I was very relieved to find this as my son (ADD-IN) scores high on all tests except IQ tests for some reason. Now they have to consider other factors. www.schwablearning.org/articles.asp?r=840&f=search |
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