We now offer cognitive assessments (sometimes known as IQ tests) for both children and adults, using either WISC-V or WAIS-IV depending on the age. Our clinicians utilise the most advanced tools to measure cognitive ability based on recent research in the area of cognitive theory and neuroscience.
 

Why would I want a cognitive assessment for my child?

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There can be numerous different reasons for wanting your child to have a cognitive assessment. It can be because your child is struggling in school or because he or she outperforms peers their age, your child might have trouble following instructions, or seem to struggle to remember or use new information in a productive way. By identifying how your child performs on four different domains, you can get a broader understanding of how to best help your child reach his or her full potential and meet the child’s individual needs.

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A cognitive assessment may be recommended as part of a wider, comprehensive assessment or as a stand-alone measure.  

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The process

 

The WISC-V is an individually administered, comprehensive clinical instrument for assessing the intelligence of young people aged 6 - 17.  (At 17 and over the adult test would be appropriate.)  To assess a child’s intelligence might sound serious, but the test helps to determine your child’s general thinking and reasoning abilities. During the test, your child will be asked to complete 10-12 subtests, they will be informed that some tests will be more difficult than others, and that the clinician do not expect them to know every single answer. The most important part is that they do their best throughout the test.

 

The subtests generate so-called index scores of four different domains: 

• Verbal comprehension: how well your child understand verbal information, think in words and express thoughts verbally.

• Visual Spatial reasoning: your child ability to organise and reason with visual information, and to solve visual problems.

• Working Memory: your child’s ability to retain and manipulate verbal information

• Processing speed: your child’s ability to scan, process and identify information accurately.

 

The test will be conducted face-to-face, and you will receive a full report of findings.

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Interpreting the results

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The index scores can be compared to identify your child’s strength and weaknesses to assist future learning strategies and recommendations.

 

The index scores are also summed up to produce a Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) composite score that represents general intellectual ability. Usually, the average score for IQ and various domains is between 90 and 109. Higher scores represent higher cognitive functioning and lower scores represent poorer cognitive functioning. However, the scores between domains can vary greatly. That is why individual domain scores may provide a more accurate reflection of your child’s cognitive ability than the overall IQ score.

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Please note: It is possible for intellectual abilities to change over the course of childhood. Additionally, a child's scores on the WISC-V can be influenced by motivation, attention, interests, and opportunities for learning. All scores may be slightly higher or lower if your child were tested again on a different day. It is therefore important to view the test scores as a snapshot of your child’s current level of intellectual functioning. When these scores are used as part of a comprehensive evaluation, they contribute to an understanding of your child’s current strengths and any needs that can be addressed.

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