Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment New and need advice how to read results

I recently received the results from my six year old first grade son's WISC-IV. His results were VCI- 114 (82nd percentile), PRI, 137 99th percentile, Working Memory 110 (75th percentile), Processing Speed (79th percentile) My question is whether or not the difference in scores is statistically significant. I have also heard that if there is a big difference across scores that it can point to other issues such as an LD, or ADD/ADHD. I have reason to suspect that my son possibly has ADD and dyslexia.Although he is very bright and is VERY good at math there are some issues that really concern me. For example, my mom had to drive him to school one day and he insisted that he had NO idea where his own classroom was, even though it is his second year at the school and it was already several weeks into the school year. He also forgets things at school quite freqently, most recenty his own backpack! David also has frequent temper tantrums and still needs to wear a pull up at night. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated.

I am new here as well and not good at reading test results. That said I also suspect my dd8 has dyslexia. She also tested much stronger in PRI than in VCI. She also had lower WM and PS scores as well. Like your son her short term memory is weak but her long term memory is like an elephant and she also is still wearing pull ups at night due to bedwetting.

I believe the threshold for statistical significance for difference in PRI-VCI is generally around 19 points, so a 23 point difference would probably qualify as significant. I can't swear to that, though...the threshold for significance varies with the age of the child and with the score range, with gifted children showing somewhat greater variability between index scores than children <2SD from the mean.

Given the issues that you are noting, a more extensive workup, perhaps with a neuropsych, might be in order.

In the schools typically they view anything with a 16 pt. difference as significant. The manual of the WISC-IV has tables based on child's age and ratio of that split. And typically 19 to 21 points starts to get to statistically significant.

Clearly there is a big split of the PRI being so much higher than VCI, WM, & PS. This suggests your son has great PRI strengths. Since the other three are all within the same range it would be hard to take a leap from those scores alone to suggest a problem. If you suspect ADD definitely consider additional testing--schools can do ADD/ADHD screenings, some pediatricians will do them, neuropsychologists & psychologists can also be great help. In order to determine dyslexia you would need a complete achievement battery and some additional specific reading assessments. Schools can do these exams--a full individual educational evaluation. Or look for dyslexia specialists or reading specialists in your community.

Thank you all so much for your advice and comments! I will speak to the school's gifted specialist regarding the big split among his scores. I also plan on getting him tested for ADD/ADHD, but I'm nervous about the school pushing for a doctor to prescribe meds if he is diagnosed. If he is diagnosed with ADD I want to try natural /behavioral therapies and want to avoid meds if at all possible. As far as testing for dyslexia I'm still looking for where this can be done.

My DD9 was just diagnosed with dyslexia a few weeks ago. She had testing with the same psychologist that administered her WISC and achievement tests. It can be tricky to suss out dyslexia in gifted kids, but it becomes more noticeable as they get farther along in school. My DD was reading at a grade 5-6 level in grade 2... why would anyone have been worried? I was, especially because her CTOPP testing showed phonological awareness in the 58%-ile. Even to my at-the-time-didn't-know-anything eye, this looked funny. Her other achievement tests were all over the map. Her oral reading scores with the GORT were >99%-ile, but her spelling on the WIAT was in the 53-%ile. Everyone at the school chose to focus their attention on her ADHD and strenghts and kept reassuring us that her spelling would even out. It took us two years and finally going back to the private psychologist to get a diagnosis.

If you suspect dyslexia, here is a link to an amazing series of on-line lectures that will provide you with more information. I watched them one after another for hours. I wish so much that I had had that information two years ago. The lecturer described my DD to a tee!

Take the time and watch the videos! http://www.brightsolutions.us/

Camille, with all the things you described, have you considered a workup by a neuropsychologist? I'd pursue it. You don't want dyslexia to go undiagnosed, and the behavioral issues (staying clean at night, tantrums) seem significant enough to warrant investigation as well.

DeeDee

Is there a good online resource that describes WISC (and other IQ test) interpretation?

Typically, scatter between index scores can be a flag for a learning or attention issue. It is very common for smart kids with LD to have either a low PSI, WMI or both. The issues you describe about directionality (although that suprises me given the high PRI - although it could be an attention thing, not a visual spatial thing), forgetting things etc.

I agree that a neuropsychological evaluation would help you to better understand his learning profile and possibly lead you to a diagnosis. At the very least, you would gain some important recommendations to help him going forward. Make sure you find one that specializes in children and education issues.

This is a good resource to learn about WISC and other tests http://alpha.fdu.edu/psychology/WISCIV_Index.htm