Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Help understanding WISC IV results

My son is 9 and in 4th grade. We recently had him tested at the recommendation of his teacher. He was diagnosed with dysgraphia. These are the results of his WISC- has anyone seen these before?

Verbal Comprehension Index- 136
Perceptual Reasoning Index- 131
Working Memory- 94
Processing Speed- 91

Subtest Scores:
Similarities- 17
Vocabulary- 15
Comprehension- 16

Block Design- 11
Picture Concepts (S)- 18
Matrix Reasoning- 16

Digit Span (W)- 6
Letter-Number Sequencing- 12

Coding (W)- 6
Symbol Search- 11
Cancellation (W)- 4

He was diagnosed via an OT evaluation and is now receiving weekly sessions with them. He does not have any other written expression problems- just the physical act of handwriting. We are working on cursive at OT and will begin typing soon.

My son is PG, and did below the mean on all if the above tests. Typing has been a lifeline for him, and it 'clicked' in at age 9!

He is doing quite well at age 13 in 9th grade in all honors classes at our public school with a summer birthday and a full grade skip (and ADHD medication - LOL on me!) Endurance and consistiency are the key challenges for him. He still is light years ahead of his classmates in 'abstract thinking.'

((There should be an anthem to Asynchronous Development, I can almost hear it right now-faintly. Instead of a salute, we stand to do the 'face-palm' gesture.))

Hugs, I hope that helps in understanding. I keep telling myself that the creator had something in mind with the current system, even if I can't comprehend exactly what that was.
Grinity

lol brilliant!

This really got my attention. I have similiar scores for my dd. We had her evaluated in 2nd grade. The tester used the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scale. FSIQ 140. However, the tested said that she had ADHD. There was never an issue of attention, and neither the school or us felt that was accurate. We then took her to another dr. who said that it wasn't ADHD but OCD. I wasn't sure about that either but we did a year of therapy. She really is just a perfectionist which is a sign of gifted. She does have anxiety with the "act" of writing. Recently had her retested with the WISC IV as follows.

Verbal Comprehension Index- 146
similarities 18
Vocabulary 18
Comprehension 17

Perceptual Reasioning Index 121
Block Design 11
Picture Concepts 15
Matrix Reasoning 14

Working Memory Index 107
Digit Span 10
Letter Number Sequencing 13

Processind Speed Index 85
Coding 6
Symbol Search 9

FSIQ 123
GAI 140

Because of these scores they also gave her the Berry VMI = an un-timed test of copying complex geometric figures which she score High average. It was also noted that on Block design, she completed the two hardest designs.
What do I make of these results? This year she finally has a teacher who is experienced with gifted kids and really challenges her. She also has got moved up for two subjects. With the harder work, it seems like her processing speed is improving. She never complains anymore when she has a writing assignment.
Any thoughts?

Thanks.

my dd7 also got very simliar scores. His high subtest was also Picture Concepts (19) and his low was coding (4). I feel he has a disability that is just not clearly defined yet. Dysgraphia does not totally fit. Sometimes his writing is wonderful.Audio Processing is weak, but doesn't totally fit either. He does have attention issues, but not severe. He has PDD-NOS diagnosis but he has no social issues and social interest is in over-drive, if anything.. (diagnosis was made before age 2)..so we're almost certain that is a mistake. But I do feel he is twice-exceptional and will continue searching for answers- i am going to request a neuro-psych be done on him this year as part of his review from the school district.
irene

I'm not sure that Dysgraphia fits either. She actually has beautiful handwriting and is an excellent speller. We have no attention problems. She did have some anxiety problems 2 years ago, but I think that was because she had a newbie teacher who wasn't very good at differentiating the cirriculum for gifted. Since then, anxiety hasn't seemed a problem. She just has a very slow processing speed but as I stated, with the more challenging work it has actually seemed to get better.
I am not sure what to look into next?