Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy New here and totally confused after testing

I'm new here and have been trying to meander through forums and threads to see where to begin.

DD (1st grade) had testing/ADHD assessment done this past month privately (referred by our ped) after we had a local committee hearing at her public school denying a 504 for her (since she had no ADHD diagnosis). She had school-based testing (Naglieri) done in June 2007 where she scored in the 99th percentile. So our ped suggested that she might be 2e.

WISC-IV scores from last month were:
FSIQ: 133
Verbal Comprehension Index: 152
Similarities: 19
Vocabulary: 18
Comprehension: 19

Perceptual Reasoning Index: 131
Block Design: 15
Picture Concepts: 12
Matrix Reasoning: 18

Working Memory Index: 107
Digit Span: 9
Letter-Number Sequencing: 14

Processing Speed Index: 100
Digit Symbol-Coding: 10
Symbol Search: 10

And her Achievement scores:
Reading - Std Score: 127 - Percentile: 96
Word Reading - Std Score: 125 - Percentile: 95
- Age Equiv: 8:4 - Grade Equiv: 2:9
Reading Comprehension - Std Score: 123 - Percentile: 94
- Age Equiv: 11:0 - Grade Equiv: 5:6
Pseudoword Decoding - Std Score: 112 - Percentile: 79
- Age Equiv: 8:0 - Grade Equiv: 2:7

Mathematics - Std Score: 121 - Percentile: 92
Numerical Operations - Std Score: 110 - Percentile: 75
- Age Equiv: 7:4 - Grade Equiv: 1:8
Math Reasoning - Std Score: 127 - Percentile: 96
- Age Equiv: 8:4 - Grade Equiv: 3:1

Written Language - Std Score: 106 - Percentile: 66
Spelling - Std Score: 109 - Percentile: 73
- Age Equiv: 7:0 - Grade Equiv: 1:8
Written Expression - Std Score: 104 - Percentile: 61
- Age Equiv: 7:8 - Grade Equiv: 1:8

I have asked several friends about what this all means and I have heard everything from "she's probably not ADHD" to "does she have dyslexia?". I know she really dislikes writing (and has even in Kindergarten) and her K teacher concluded that DD has a tracking problem when reading.

At this point we are trying to squeeze in a 504 hearing before the end of school (June 13) and DH and I will be meeting our pediatrician in June 4 to discuss individual and group therapy as well as medication options. Our ped will not do meds right away because (a) DD isn't even 7 years old yet (not until August) and (b) she wouldn't need meds in the summer anyway.

What do you folks think? How do I make heads or tails out of these results (especially the WMI and PSI results) re: a possible ADHD diagnosis?

Thanks!
Karen

Hi Karen,

Welcome! Wow, she has some really strong scores! I'm not the numbers person, but I'm sure others will pipe in.
So you mentioned your ped, but what about the tester?
Did they say anything about the spread between her highest and lowest score?

Hi Karen,

Welcome! I"m not the numbers person either but wanted to wave hello!

The psychologist gave us a written report with eight recommendations:
1. See our pediatrician address meds for DD's ADHD symptoms
2. Work with the school for a 504 plan for classroom-based accommodations
3. Given her "well above grade level" performance, she should receive GT placement
4. Additional practice with writing and spelling
5. Continue extra-curricular activities for her sense of self-mastery and to develop peer relationships; join a social skills group outside of school [NOTE: she's in a friendship group at school now]
6. Parenting skills training for us due to her oppositional behavior at home
7. Read "Taking Charge of ADHD" by Dr. Russell Barkley
8. Join CHADD (www.chadd.org)

What are the behaviours that make you think ADHD?

She has several strong scores, but that VCI is really very high and I have to wonder if she is just really bored and restless and not ADHD at all.

Have you seen her in a situation where she is really challenged and engaged with something that interests her? Do the ADHD behaviours go away when she cares about what is going on? If the behaviors go away under ideal learning situations, then I would really want to fix the environment, rather than the child!

Also, waving hello. If it makes you feel any better, I'm just as confused by my son's numbers as you are. He's also 6, will be 7 in July. We don't have ADHD issues - we have slow-pokey issues (no meds for that!) Welcome!

She is very distracted in school as well as at home -- and soccer, and dance class, and Brownies, and swim class (etc.) -- you get the idea! She doesn't do as much work in school as her classmates. She doesn't like to pat attention, especially in large groups. If she is in a small group, she does great.

And to be honest, I really don't know if this is ADHD or she is just plain bored. The symptoms are so similar, KWIM? That's part of (my) reluctance to put her on meds.

Thank you (and everyone else!) for the wonderful welcome!

Is the ADHD diagnosis based on these scores? Or reported behavior? Or both?
Was the psychologist one who specializes in gifted?
Do you agree with the ADHD diagnosis?
I think there is a lot of info they have nowadays in regards to addressing behaviors before medicating, so that is good.
There are several on this forum who also have children with ADHD who do have their children take medicine and have been successful with that course. Perhaps they can give you some more guidance.
Definately, GT placement is a given.
That VCI especially is WOW!!!!!!! Scores of 18 and 19 are considered to be topping out, so even that 152 could feasably be an underestimate!

Exciting news and sometimes a little overwhelming, yes?
Good luck with your communications with the school.

No advice on the numbers either but I just wanted to welcome you to the group!

okay, our posts crossed. Yes, it's hard to tell whether the problem is ADHD or bored. Could be both. If the distractability occurs in most situations, not just school, it could be an attentional issue.
It wouldn't be unwise to get a second opinion for the ADHD diagnosis.