The low coding score might be due to vision issues - the coding subtest requires a child copy a series of directional marks (if I am remembering it correctly - and I might not be lol!), and it's timed. The symbol search test also relies on vision - it requires that the child pick out identical symbols from a crowded field of random pictures. With scores that low in both, I'd be suspicious of vision. Fine motor skills can impact both subtests also, but are less likely to impact symbol search than coding.
If it is a vision issue, it could be straight-out eyesight (needs glasses) or it could be a muscle tone issue, tracking/convergence issue, etc. My dd had 20/20 eyesight at 7 yet scored very very low on coding and symbol search on the WISC because she had undiagnosed double vision and convergence/tracking issues due to muscle weakness in her eyes. The vision issues were *not* caught by our regular eye dr, we found out about the possibility of a vision issue through neurospych testing and were then referred to a developmental optometrist for an eval.
Have you noticed any challenges with school, homework, anything? If there is a vision challenge you might see things like not being enthusiastic about reading, or a lot of crumbs at the dinner table, or bumping into things or not being the most coordinated kid. If there's a fine motor issue, you might see things like sloppy handwriting or a reluctance to do writing assignments, taking a long time to learn to tie shoes, slow at getting dressed (buttons, zippers, etc).
Since the testing you had was for gifted program admission, I am guessing you didn't have any further testing to tease out why the WM and PSI were lower than the VIQ/PRI. If you'd been through a neuropsych eval, there would be additional testing that would help determine if there were fine motor or vision issues. Some of that testing you can get through other avenues if you do have a concern - an OT can assess fine motor, and a Developmental Optometrist can assess visual.
Hope some of that helps,
polarbear
