From what I've read it seems like the GAI typically winds up being several points higher than the FSIQ.
That can't be true. They are both supposed to have mean 100 and SD 15.
22B, it can be true because they are two different calculations: FSIQ is a composite of the VCI, PRI, WM and PSI indexes; GAI is a composite of VCI & PRI only. I don't remember the name of it, but another # can be calculated that is the composite of the WM & PRI only.
I suspect the reason that GAI seems to be higher than FSIQ when mentioned in these forums is the nature of why it's mentioned, and the profile of what occurs more often in HG/+ children. Although I don't have a GAI calculated for her, I wouldn't be surprised if the GAI of one of my dds is lower than her FSIQ because PSI and WM are her strengths and her scores are higher there than for VCI and PRI.
To the OP - who mentioned the possibility of LD? Was it the tester or is it based on something you've read online? How much lower was the GAI than the FSIQ? If you can share the actual #s (or the amount of discrepancy observed) and also tell us a little bit more about why your ds was tested (was it for a gifted program, routine testing, or was he struggling in some area) - we might be able to give some extra input.
Best wishes,
polarbear
eta - I don't want to confuse the post here.. but fwiw, my dd who does have the higher WM and PSI scores also has a challenge with a different type of memory and it impacts her ability to read. So she is considered to be 2e - but that doesn't mean that a child has an LD simply because WM and PSI are their strengths. It might be a red flag, however, that some type of LD Is causing scores to be depressed in one or more of the PRI/VCI subtests and that would lower that component of FSIQ and also the GAI. Hope that makes sense!
