Parents of children who show exceptional academic achievement and appear brighter than their same-age peers may wonder if their child is “Gifted.” To assess compatibility for gifted educational services, Gulfshore Behavioral Health conducts IQ testing to determine an individual’s level of cognitive functioning. The assessment is conducted during one office visit and results are delivered immediately.
Gulfshore Behavioral Health remains up to date with local school districts to ensure compliance with requirements and regulations for the assessment of Giftedness in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, and Sarasota counties. The results provided are easily able to be sent to appropriate school personnel for the consideration of part and/or full time gifted educational services at the child’s school.
What does a gifted testing appointment entail?
Gifted testing is scheduled for a single two-hour appointment which includes a brief review of the child’s background history and mental health functioning, test administration, and discussion of the results at the conclusion of the appointment.
What test is administered?
We have several cognitive assessments available in our test library. The test administered varies based on several factors including the individuals age, previous test administration, etc. Rest assured that your provider will choose the best test for your circumstances!
Can I have gifted testing done if I’m not completely sure my child is gifted but just to see their scores?
Cognitive assessments are often administered to determine an individual’s strengths and weaknesses. Parents often find it helpful to better understand their child’s abilities in the domains assessed (e.g., verbal comprehension, working memory, processing speed, etc.) An intellectual evaluation (“gifted testing”) can be completed by anyone aged 2 years 6 months through 90 years 11 months.
Who has access to the results?
As with any service received at Gulfshore Behavioral Health, your privacy is respected and all results are completely confidential. You are welcome to provide results and/or request that results be provided to a third party (e.g., pediatrician, school district, etc.). Without written informed consent, results remain confidential. If you do not want your child’s school to know about scores earned on the gifted assessment conducted here, that decision is respected.
How can we prepare for gifted testing?
You may tell your child that they are going to an appointment where they will be playing fun mind games to see how they learn. Aside from getting a well-rested night of sleep the evening prior and eating a balanced breakfast the morning of the appointment, please do not attempt to prepare for the testing in any way. Any sign of studying or preparation for the test will invalidate the results. Testing is meant to assess a child’s functioning without prior exposure, preparation, or practice to the materials. There are websites and resources available online that claim to prepare children for gifted testing but if there is any evidence that these materials were used, the psychologist will immediately discontinue testing and an IQ score will not be rendered.
Note: Insurance companies do not consider gifted testing “medically necessary”. Therefore, insurance will not cover gifted testing. Gifted testing will always be an out-of-pocket cost unless intellectual/cognitive testing is included as a part of a comprehensive evaluation.