Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Tester used WISC III not WISC IV - HELP!!

We got DGS6 tested and got the results today. The tester used WISC III instead of WISC IV and his scores are all over the map. I was told that the WISC III is not very reliable for 6yo? Is that true?

Tester wants to redo the test with Woodcock Johnson III both the cognitive and achievement. Does it test the same things, is it better for younger children? I researched the WISC IV and then found out she did III and feel a little lost. Also, she believes it (maybe vastly) underestimated his actual IQ due to very low processing speed. e.g. Similiarities score was 19, but information was 7. Picture Arrangement was 17, Coding was 7. His processing speed calculated at the 3rd percentile! But his overall perceptual reasoning was in the 82nd percentile with the low coding score figured in.

We are being referred for further testing for ASD, ADHD or dyslexia. She believes he has an LD of some type that is keeping us from accurately testing his IQ. He exhibited a very short attention span, but she was able to keep him on task fairly well. She also said he is very young and may be a late bloomer in terms of test taking.

So, my questions:
What does Woodcock Johnson test that WISC does not?
Where do we go from here? I went for answers and came back with more questions, and no real answers.

Leahchris

we just got both tests done. I must say I'm so glad that we did. Due to whatever goes on in my son's brain, his WISC scores are ALL over the place despite having an high FSIQ and PG subscore. The WJIII, which measures many areas showed that he is performing 90+percentiles in almost all areas, but what was valuable is seeing where is he IS NOT, so that we can address those areas. Despite not having any "labeled" LD, the two tests in conjunction revealed his "relative weaknesses" which I think will ultimately be very helpful.

This sounds very confusing, my initial response is that I would almost certainly retest, but not under any circumstances with the person who thought it was ok to use the WISC III in the first place - a test that is out of date enough that the WISC V is currently being normed. Although I would not be inclined to fully trust the results you have now, I would definitely consider the scatter and the other issues that may be at play and be very sure to find a 2E specialist this time around because it certainly sounds like he has strengths and weaknesses in there.

Hi Leahchris,

I am just wondering from this comment " I was told that the WISC III is not very reliable for 6yo" if you mean that they used the WPPSI III? That is a current Wechsler test (as is the WISC IV), but might have ceiling issues for a 6yo I believe (but it is less of an issue if they used the WPPSI III than them using the WISC III, which has MumOfThree said, is well and truly out of date).

If it is the WPPSI people might have different advice, that's all

Giftodd

Excellent point giftodd. Definitely worth clarifying if it was the WPPSI 3, which it is true is not great for a gifted 6 yr old.

Tester used the WISC-III. Really. I am meeting with the school psychologist hopefully today to see what the school can offer in terms of testing. Our local school does not have a good track record with special needs and a terrible track record with 2e kids. We are looking at our options.

Through our local university library I was able to get some useful information on the reliability of the scatter on the WISC-III test. The perceptual subtest scatter range was found in half of all the normed (gifted and non-gifted) testers. However, the Verbal Comprehension range was found in less than 3% of all the normed testers. So, it is clinically significant.

So, my next question is, with severe processing deficits, is the WJ-III abilities test going to be any more accurate? Does it have something similar to the GIA for the WISC-IV?

BTW, the reason the tester is not at all confident with the IQ score (barely below gifted) is that with his terrible processing he is still at the top kindergarten student in not only his class, but the school. He has learned to read and can do above-level math. She said he is compensating with his intelligence for his LD.

The wild scatter is definitely something I'd worry about. However, I wouldn't be too sure as to whether the scatter is valid. Given the Flynn effect and that the WISC-III is almost two versions outdated since they're moving onto the WISC-V in the next year, I believe, I wouldn't personally be too confident that the high scores aren't a bit inflated as well making the scatter perhaps lesser than it appears at face value.

I'm not familiar with the WJ-III cognitive, but am wondering if you've looked @ the SB-V b/c it isn't timed and might, thus, be better for a child with a processing speed deficit.

Were you told before the testing that the WISC-III would be used, and that it was a non-current test? If you weren't, I'd ask for my money back.

Ditto.

I'm curious, if the WISC III were used, would they have to wait a full year before the WISC IV (or V) can be administered?

I wouldn't discount the WISC III simply because it was an older test. These tests change very little from one version to the next, most changes you notice will be in questions designed to cater to a particular minority group to boost scores of certain groups.

The fact that he has scores all over the place could just be the result of him not taking the test seriously. You might consider taking him to be tested by someone else. If he was tested by a woman and scores were all over the place then you might find a male tester to try next time. Sometimes boys that act up and don't give it their all for a woman will do so for a man, or sometimes they work better for a woman than a man.