The IQ test or psychological assessment of the child’s cognitive abilities.
1. What is an intelligence test?
There are several intelligence tests but the most internationally recognized and validated as being the best test to assess child intelligence is the WISC, the latest version of it is the WISC V.
The WISC V or Wechsler intelligence scale for children and adolescents.
The intelligence scale calculates the Total Intellectual Quotient representing the general intellectual ability that reflects the child’s academic and learning skills.
– The 5 main index that is taken into account to measure the level of performance of the child for each of the major cognitive functions is verbal comprehension, visuospatial skills, working memory and speed of treatment.
The repartition is as follow:
– 2.5% of the population has a Total IQ ≤ 70 and therefore a mental retardation (of which 0.13% has a Total IQ ≤ 55)
– 95% of the population has a total IQ between 70 & 130 (from low intelligence to higher intelligence, through the norm, which can be average low or medium high)
– 2.5% of the population has a Total IQ ≥ 130 & therefore a high intellectual potential (of which 0.13% has a Total IQ ≥ 145, which can be qualified as a Very High Intellectual Quotient. (barely more than 1 ‰). This rate then falls to 0.025% for a score of 150, or just over 1 in 5000 people.
The WISC V is therefore at the moment the most efficient test to be able to give at a precise moment, the reality of the cognitive skills of the child and his general intelligence.
2. Why should your child pass an intelligence test?
There can be many reasons for a child to pass an IQ test. The test may be requested by the school due to academic difficulties or on the contrary by teachers noting that a particular pupil seems to have superior abilities comparing to other children in his class.
At school, it seems essential to be able to identify where a child is can be positioned in term of learning potential to be able to better identify its facilities or difficulties in order to provide assistance tailored to his needs.
The demand can also come from parents who find that their child has bigger existential concerns than those of his age, which may be a sign of intellectual precocity. Or, on the contrary, learning difficulties which can lead to stigmatization in the school class.
In general, it is essential for these children to be evaluated in terms of their cognitive functioning by the IQ test as it will provide appropriate care both at the school and at a home.
3. Intellectual precocity.
It is important to keep in mind that a child may be struggling at school in terms of academic performance or even behavioral level while having above-average cognitive abilities. And it is precisely this gap which can be at the source of his difficulties.
The child can then feel a difference that he cannot verbalize and that will be revealed by hypersensitivity, the difficulty of socialization with children of the same age group or behavioral disorders.
His integration difficulties will eventually create a feeling of rejection and may cause disorders of self-esteem: “I am rejected”, “I am not like the others “,” Nobody loves me “.
If this difference is not diagnosed, it could be very detrimental for the child who does not feel understood and therefore, lead to a progressive disinvestment from the school system. How many gifted children have ended up in parallel school streams because of a lack of understanding of the misinformed school environment?
4. Children in difficulty
Finally, a child may have attention disorders related or not to hyperactivity but also mental retardation mild, medium or severe. Children can also have difficulties in reading and writing or calculating. Brain trauma and autism spectrum disorders can also cause profound disorders. The intelligence test will take stock of the child’s difficulties in order to find him later the most appropriate help to overcome his deficits or any other pathology affecting his learning.
5. Conclusion
If you have the slightest doubt about the problems mentioned above, the WISC or intelligence test is an accurate and comprehensive diagnostic test that will give you the relevant elements to be able to put in place a suitable care for your child who will help throughout his school career and his adult life.