My son's IQ tested Borderline

Why was he tested privately-what question were you hoping would be answered? Is he in public school now? “Just” an IQ test is not a full evaluation for a child like this-you should ask for a speech and lang. eval, academic testing and the Vineland Social Maturity Scale-which will give you a much better picture and more info for planning. IQ testing in young kids is not too predictive, and is a one-shot picture in time-more testing over several yrs will help determine diagnosis. Private ld schools can set what ever admission criteria they want too, and many do like kids with IQ’s in the 110 plus range. The question is, what is the best setting for his needs now, and I think you need more testing.

Poor receptive language skills can impact the accuracy of IQ testing. My now 11 year old tested as having an 84 IQ at age 3 and 5 (different tests). He was language delayed also but ironically scored higher on the verbal part of the test. He had trouble following directions for the performance part of the test, which was noted by the tester. He did a program called Fast Forward at age 7 which improved his receptive language skills a lot. Afterwards, his IQ was retested as part of comprehensive testing effort by a new school. He scored 99, which is as average as can be.

On the other hand, he continued to score lower on the performance part of the IQ test. In fact, some scores were even lower than before. This uneveness reflects the fact that he is learning disabled. It was, at least at that time, his true IQ. I do think this IQ score, however, was impacted by his very weak visual perceptual skills which have been at least partly remediated. He is functioning much better than before. But I have no idea if the actual scores have changed since we have not redone testing.

With my son there were clear inconsistencies with his low average IQ and his interests. We and the school felt the testing wasn’t an accurate portrayal of him. We then moved and the second school used his low IQ scores as justification for them not teaching him to read—which is why we pursued more comprehensive testing.

Beth

Lots of 2nd graders still read at a first grade level-it is a good sign IMO that he is reading at all. What sort of things can he read? Is he sounding out or remembering sight words

What about math-does he ‘get’ addition and subtraction? I wouldnt worry about whether he can pass timed tests on math facts but the bigger picture.

Are you addressing the ADHD? Have you looked into medication? My sons achievement scores went up with medication but I cant say IQ was affected.

My sons IQ scores at age 4 were in the 80s in the verbal area. His non-verbal was actually quite high at 134. By 7, they both fell into the average range and were only 5 points apart. By age 10, the verbal stayed average and the non-verbal moved up again. I think he is due up for testing again next year-Im interested to see where he is now

Point being-it fluctuates. But….if RIGHT now his IQ is low, you have to meet him where he is IMO. Maybe in two years he can be back in the average range but I would hesitate to put him in a situation where he can only fail. The key is to think one year at a time and not make long range predictions or set school placement in stone

You might want to post the specifics of his testing, especially subtest scores.

Kids with receptive and expressive language problems may score lower on IQ tests because of the effects of their language-based LD. I would not assume that the 79 fullscale is an accurate reflection of your child’s native intelligence. Was there any difference between verbal and performance scores?

THANKS FOR THE REPLYS. MY SON HAS HAD ALL THE TESTING DONE AND IS DEFINITELY DELAYED IN SPEECH AND FINE MOTOR SKILLS. I WAS UNHAPPY WITH THE RELATIONSHIP MY SON HAD WITH TESTER. HE SHUT DOWN SO MUCH WITH HER. I WASN’T SURE THE TEST WAS ACCURATE. I GUESS I HAVE TO GET OVER THE SCORES AND FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE MY SON SUCCESSFUL. WE HAVEN’T GOTTEN THE BREAKDOWN OF THE SCORES YET SO I DON’T KNOW HOW THEY CAME IN BUT THE PSYCOL. SAID THAT THERE WERE INCONSISTENCIES. AND SHE FELT THAT HIS SCORES WOULD BE HIGHER WHEN HIS SKILL LEVEL INCREASED. HE KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION HAS TO USE MANIPULATIVES TO FIGURE OUT THE ANSWER.

ANYTHING ELSE WOULD BE GREAT.

Yes, you are on the right tract; did you get an eval thru the public school, and will he get services…these are the important things. I am surprised you went thru 2 evals with such doubts in their validity; testing next time in 2-3 yrs will give you a better picture.

Thanks for the reply. I just didn’t like the tester and they way she treated my son and myself. We did have him tested 1 and a half years apart initually. I had several people recommend this person we just took him to. I really felt comfortable with her and her results. Now all we are waiting to do is get her final report, present it to the school, try to get the additional services implemented which are just additional speech, OT, calculator use as long as he gets the facts. He is right now in an adaptive Special Ed class with a teacher, an assistant, and two personal aides which are for other kids but also help my son. What worries me the most is middle school if we decide to keep him in the public school system but one bridge at a time.

Thanks for the reply. I just didn’t like the tester and they way she treated my son and myself. We did have him tested 1 and a half years apart initually. I had several people recommend this person we just took him to. I really felt comfortable with her and her results. Now all we are waiting to do is get her final report, present it to the school, try to get the additional services implemented which are just additional speech, OT, calculator use as long as he gets the facts. He is right now in an adaptive Special Ed class with a teacher, an assistant, and two personal aides which are for other kids but also help my son. What worries me the most is middle school if we decide to keep him in the public school system but one bridge at a time.

I have an 8 yr old and he was tested when he was 6. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought about his tests being “significatly delayed”, but they were. He was in the 1st percentile in every single test done and subtest. His overall score was a 68, he is now diagnosed with “cognative disabilities”. The funny thing is, it took me a whole year to figure out what that really meant. I started calling private LD schools, and they were telling me that they don’t take “Cognative” children in that low percentile. I was flabergasted…what they heck are they talking about. Finally coming onto this website and doing research myself, I figured out that he will be a “slow learner”. I am still struggling to find his way, his way of learning. He has been in speech therapy since he was 3 and has severe receptive and expressive language delays, and also was diagnosed with ADD in grade one. I always knew that there was something different with his learning needs, but I was always thinking “LD”, not cognitive delays. It is very hard to come to grips with this, and even the last couple of years it is getting more difficult because he is starting to realize that he is different.

We have searched out some very good programs for him, and it really was a trial and error thing. But I think we have him in a good place right now, he has a smile on his face after his classes. I think I am still in the process of finding more information about him and his disablities and what I can do. The best place for advice and support is boards like this, where people have first hand knowledge on this stuff. Ask questions and you can get some good answers. Victoria who frequents on the board is amazing….gosh, she has opened my eyes so much here!

Good luck, if you have any questions, just ask

Thanks for your insight. My husband is having a hard time dealing with this whole thing. I told him to post something on this sight. It has helped me feel better and also has given me things to think about. I hope he does it because the more I read the better I feel.

When my Hearing Impaired daughter was in first grade she tested out with a 70 verbal IQ Her verbal IQ has gone up to the normal range now.

However there is a big difference with kids who have LIF (Limited Intellectual Functioning)=Mental Retardation or other cognitve issues. They may not have the natural skill set that other kids have, it may take them longer to learn and do things…perhaps your son needs a more intensive program but he may not reach as high as your dreams are for him because of his cognitive issues…However, he can be sucessful in what he does and feel good about his accomplishments and make his own place in this world.

Someone said to me on this board one that “one of the worst things we can do to anybody at any cognitive level is put them in a river where the current’s always going a bit too fast, and expect that somehow, eventually, they’ll get strong enough to swim in it”

Keep in mind that you will have to go at your child’s level not on other 6 year old levels. All children learn differently, you just need to find the way for yoru child.