IQ stands for intelligence quotient, but intelligence can be hard to define. Children that have high IQ scores are developmentally ahead of their peers in verbal and logical thinking abilities. Children that score high on an IQ test are considered gifted. But high IQ scores are not the whole story. Aspects of intelligence that cannot be measured by a test are creativity and social skills.
IQ Testing
IQ tests measure a person's ability to learn. A score of 100 is an average score and a score of 140 or above is considered high. According to Linda Kreiger Silverman Ph.D., the most often used IQ tests are The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. In decisions regarding who should be placed in a gifted program, she recommends that individual IQ tests be used rather than group tests. IQ tests must be used and evaluated carefully so children from less advantaged backgrounds or ones that have a language barrier are not overlooked for gifted programs.
Giftedness
According to the ERIC Digests article "Giftedness and the Gifted," the most used indicator of giftedness is the IQ test. While IQ tests are not perfect, if they are administered and interpreted properly they are a reliable indicator of intellectual giftedness. The one trait common to most gifted children is the ability to learn new things rapidly.
Two developmental areas that children with high IQ scores typically do not perform exceptional on are processing speed and working memory.
Traits
Gifted children are often way ahead of their peers only in certain areas, Silverman states. They have strengths and weaknesses like most children.
Gifted children can be fearful and anxious. Most have the capability to understand the dangers and risks of everyday living, but not the perspective that comes with maturity. Perfectionism is a trait often seen in children with high IQ scores as well as sensitivity.
Considerations
About 16 percent of gifted children are found to have learning disabilities, according to Silverman. Because gifted children often have higher abstract reasoning abilities they are able to hide disabilities.
Children who have high IQ scores because of their different development rate often do not have enough in common to socialize well with their other children their own age.
Encouragement
Children in the top 3 percent of the population benefit the most from special programs, according to Silverman. Gifted children feel better about themselves when placed in a classroom with other gifted children.
Introversion is seen more frequently in gifted children than in the general population. Introversion is associated with good outcomes when the children become adults in areas like leadership and moral development. Quiet children should not be pushed to behave in a more extroverted fashion, Silverman suggests.
Parents need to advocate for their gifted child. In "What We Have Learned About Gifted Children," Silverman states that, gifted children sometimes present with behavior problems and may not be immediately recognized as gifted.
Early intervention and recognition of children who are gifted help these children become successful.
References
- Gifted Development Center: What We Have Learned About Gifted Children
- National Association for Gifted Children: ERIC Digests, Children: Giftedness and the Gifted: What's it All About?
- Davidson Institute for Talent Development: A Follow-up of Subjects Scoring Above 180 IQ in Terman's Genetic Studies of Genius
- Gifted Development Center: How to Use the new IQ Tests in Selecting Gifted Students
- National Association of Gifted Children: IQ Tests and Your Child
