Thanks in advance for your help! I have a twice-exceptional 10yo son who just completed a full neuropsych evaluation.
We were provided scores and will receive a full report in Jan. I'm trying to figure out if I need to go back to the administering psychologist to calculate the scores to determine if he qualifies for the Davidson Young Scholars program or not. I do not think he qualifies, he only recieved a 99.9 on one subtest, but I'm not sure.
The Davidson Young Scholars program requires a 145+ on:
Full Scale IQ Score (FSIQ)
General Ability Index (GAI)
Expanded General Ability Index (EGAI)
Nonverbal Index (NVI)
Verbal Expanded Crystallized Index (VECI)
Expanded Fluid Index (EFI)
I only have the FSIQ which is way below cutoff. I don't know how to derive the other indices.. do I ask the psychiatrist to calculate these?
Thank you in advance for you help! Standard scores below.
Verbal Comprehension (VCI) 133 (99)
Visual Spatial (VSI) 147 (99.9)
Fluid Reasoning (FRI) 140 (99.6)
Working Memory (WMI) 127 (96)
Processing Speed (PSI) 72 (3)
Full Scale (FSIQ) 129 (97)
Verbal Comprehension Subtests
Similarities 16 (98)
Vocabulary 16 (98)
(Information) 18 (99.6)
(Comprehension) 14 (91)
Visual Spatial Subtests
Block Design 19 (99.9)
Visual Puzzles 17 (99)
Fluid Reasoning Subtests
Matrix Reasoning 18 (99.6)
Figure Weights 16 (98)
(Picture Concepts) 8
Working Memory Subtests
Digit Span 13 (84)
Picture Span 17 (99)
(Letter Number Sequencing) 11 (63)
Processing Speed Subtests
Coding 2
(Symbol Search) 8 (25)
(Cancellation) 10 (50)
I gather your question is how to derive the remaining global indices, and if there would be utility for DYS purposes? There are tables for those, some of which are publicly available, and some of which are not, but the bottom line is whether it would be worthwhile.
Short answer: yes, go back and get the GAI. You will obtain a valuable result.
That is the only Index score that is worth obtaining, in this case. The VECI will be nearly indistinguishable from the VCI, the EFI is missing one subtest (and would be lower than the FRI anyway, based on the subtest you do have), which means the EGAI is both missing a subtest and also would be lower than the GAI, and, finally, the NVI would also be not substantially different from the FSIQ, due to the outlying Extremely Low Coding score.
I'd be surprised if the GAI weren't already planned to be part of the formal discussion (written report), as there is a sizable difference between his FSIQ and GAI, but by all means call and make sure it makes it into writing.
Thank you for your feedback! Will obtain the GAI.
He's a great kid and oh so difficult to parent.
@aeh Thanks again. The administering psychologist said "of course" the GAI will be included in the final report, and noted "it's a better estimate of ___'s abilities and strengths" [than the FSIQ].
We are applying to 2E schools, as his current special needs school environment is no longer working out (by mutual agreement of all parties involved). His highly discrepant numbers clearly indicate 2E.
What a journey this is.
Thank you again for your thoughtful reply.
You are very welcome! I hope you find what he needs.
My son was rejected. We recieved a generic form letter that he did not meet testing criteria.
Full submitted WISC-V below (just the Standard Scores)
Verbal Comprehension 133
Visual Spatial 147
Fluid Reasoning 140
Working Memory 127
Processing speed 72
FSIQ 129
GAI 138
Verbal Comprehension Subtests
Similarities 16
Vocabulary 16
Information 18
Comprehension 14
Visual Spatial Subtests
Block Design 19
Visual Puzzles 17
Fluid Reasoning Subtests
Matrix Reasoning 18
Figure Weights 16
(Picture Concepts) 8
(Arithmetic) 14
Working Memory Subtests
Digit Span 13
Picture Span 17
Letter Number Sequencing 11
Processing Speed Subtests
Coding 2
Symbol Search 8
Cancellation 10
I note that the scores I listed at the top of this thread did not include the Arithmetic Fluid Reasoning subtest (I didn't have it then) which perhaps negatively impacted his final, formal GAI.
We submitted his full neuropsychological report which also included CELF-5 and WIAT-III.
I'm bereft. He is educationally homeless next year, having been asked to leave his current special needs school for lack of engagement. He's been asked to leave four different schools and spends most of his days alone, sitting on a floor of hallway, reading books he backpacks in from home.
I was desperately hoping for guidance as to what to do.
I am a bit puzzled by the calculated GAI. That is not the same number I obtained. Nor is the FSIQ, if it comes to that (though only different by a little). (The Primary Index scores are all consistent with my calculations.) The GAI number you listed appears to be the lower limit of the 90/95% confidence intervals for the GAI, rather than the actual standard score.
Arithmetic would not affect his GAI. I think (if what you've posted is an accurate reflection of the submitted neuropsych) that a typographical error may have been part of the rejection. I'd suggest going back to the evaluator and clarifying. The GAI should be DYS qualifying.
Thank you. I captured the essence of your post and wrote to the evaluator.
I should add that of course I'm not pinning my hopes that Davidson will solve all of our educational problems, we've retained NYC's top special education lawyer to help us navigate our case with the Department of Education.
After four school failures, I've left my career to help him. Where I'm desperate for help is how to leverage his raw talent and motivation as he grows and matures, and how to channel his passion for Earth justice productively. We are also looking to help him find friends.
Thank you again for your amazing help. I'd be lost without this forum.
If you have already left your career I would homeschool. You will be able to meet his needs better and get him appropriate social experiences. Unlike AEH I am not an expert but that GAI looks lower than I was expecting based on the other scores.
Update from the psychologist:
"FSIQ: My total of subscales was 1 point off, raising the sum of scaled scores to 100 and the Composite Score of FSIQ to 130, 98% and Very Superior Range. I’ve edited this in the report.
GAI: Apologies, I did make an error here. GAI = 145, 99.9% Also edited in the report."
Should I forward this thread to the admissions office and ask if they could re-evaluate him? While the rule is 'wait six months before reapplying' I feel like is an error correction, not new information.
Thanks to the wonderful @aeh to catching the error!
Edit: clarity.
I think you could reasonably consider this a correction. I'd forward the corrected report and the cover email to DYS.
Done.
Of course it's hours before the April cycle closes.. the email will likely be buried in a deluge of last minute questions.
Thank you @aeh from the bottom of my heart for catching this.
He’s in DYS!
We’re it not for @aeh catching it, we would NEVER have caught the GAI score error. Wow. Just WOW.
Thank you @aeh for making a tremendous difference in our son’s (and our family’s) life. We are so grateful!!
Yay! So happy for you and your DC.