For who?

Pre-schoolers, school-aged children and adolescents

What is it?

An Intellectual assessment looks at your child’s level of learning ability compared to other children their age. It is sometimes called a cognitive assessment or an IQ assessment.

When might an intellectual assessment be useful?

If you feel that it takes your child longer to learn new skills / concepts than other children their age. Sometimes children with learning difficulties need to be shown how to do things several times before they can do it or they might need new concepts explained repeatedly before they understand them. Oftentimes, it is pre-schools or schools that first raise concerns about a child’s overall learning ability compared to their peers and they may be needing extra educational support as a result. Other times, an intellectual assessment may be useful to rule out learning difficulties as the cause of other specific developmental problems (e.g. social difficulties, speech difficulties or co-ordination difficulties). Sometimes, it can be the case that a child can have learning difficulties and other areas of developmental difficulties that are not better explained by their level of learning (e.g. a child could have a learning difficulty and ADHD).

At the other end of the learning spectrum, a child may be presenting with superior learning (Gifted) compared to their peers. Most of the time children who are clearly learning at a much faster rate than their peers do not need assessment as long as they are challenged at the right level, their interactions with peers are going well and parents feel able to meet their needs without additional support. If there is a query that perhaps a child with higher ability may need different supports in school and home then an assessment may be useful in this case.

What does a general learning disability mean?

A general learning disability means that a child is delayed across all areas of development (i.e. they are behind their peers in their learning and other areas of daily living skills such as communication/ social skills/ self-help skills, and motor skills). An individual’s level of learning ability is generally stable over time (i.e. if they are behind their peers aged 10 years of age they are likely to continue to be behind their peers aged 16 years.)

What type of assessment is used?

The Wechsler Preschool & Primary Scale of Intelligence™ Fourth Edition (WPPSI™-IV) is an innovative measure of cognitive development for pre-schoolers and young children, rooted in contemporary theory and research. The WPPSI-IV assessment measures ability across five areas of cognitive functioning and produces a composite score that represents overall intellectual ability (FSIQ). The assessment is desk-based (i.e. children need to have pre-requisite skills to be able to stay seated at a table to carry out desk-top activities) with a clinician.

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth UK Edition (WISC-V UK) is an individually administered, comprehensive clinical instrument for assessing the intelligence of children aged 6:0-16:11. Intellectual functioning is assessed across five cognitive areas: Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI), Visual Spatial Index (VSI), Fluid Reasoning Index (FRI), Working Memory Index (WMI), and the Processing Speed Index (PSI). This assessment also produces a Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) composite score that represents general intellectual ability.

The Vineland 3 is used alongside cognitive assessment as a leading instrument for supporting the diagnosis of intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Vineland III evaluates three broad domains of adaptive functioning - Communication, Daily Living Skills, and Socialization-- that correspond to those specified by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and by DSM-5. In addition, Vineland-3 offers optional Motor Skills and Maladaptive Behaviour domains of assessment for situations in which these areas are of concern.

Assessment of emotional / behaviour domains are also carried out as indicated (e.g. if there is a query of ADHD that requires onward referral for further assessment / diagnosis).

What happens in the assessment?

The clinician and child / adolescent sit together at a desk and the clinician gives short and simple instructions to the child/ adolescent each step of the way. Parents can stay in the room to help the child feel at ease and to observe the assessment. The assessment is desk-based and involves different activities such as answering general knowledge questions, building designs, analysing patterns etc. 

How long is the assessment?

The assessment typically takes between 45 – 90 minutes depending on the child’s age, ability and attention span. Some children may need breaks to ensure optimal performance.

What happens after the assessment?

The clinician will write a report detailing your child’s results, profile of strengths and weaknesses, any diagnosis (if relevant), and recommendations for supports and services going forward. This will all be talked through with parents in a feedback meeting. Depending on the child’s age feedback will also be given to the child.

How much does it cost?

€650