IQ Test for Mildly Autistic Children
By Inderbir Kaur Sandhu, Ph.D
Q:
I have a six year old mildly autistic son. His school is
requesting that I get him an IQ test. How would this be done
since he is only six? Is it reading questions and writing
answers?
A: Intelligence testing can be
done for children as young as four years of age. At six, you
son qualifies most of the IQ tests available. However, being
mildly autistic, the may need to do specialized tests
tailor-made for such children. These tests vary depending on
the child. You would need to see an educational or a child
psychologist to get a diagnosis of his condition (to
determine his level of autism - or could it be Asperger's
Syndrome?) and then recommend a special test that would most
accurately capture the level of his abilities.
Research studies have indicated that about half of people
with autism score below 50 on IQ tests, 20% score between 50
and 70, and 30 percent score higher than 70. Having said
that, it is also true that estimating IQ in young children
with autism can be quite complex and difficult because
problems with language and behavior can interfere with
testing. It has also been reported that a small percentage
of people with autism are savants. These individuals have
limited but extraordinary skills in areas such as music,
mathematics, drawing, or visualization.
For further understanding of tests for mildly autistic
children, you may want to view the
Adult & Child web site for specialized tests for Autism.
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