.Don’t be discouraged by those who tell you that your child is a “slow learner”—instead, help develop your student to be the best they can be!
The evidence is overwhelming and now accepted that the brain’s ability is not static, but can be changed with the right tools and instructional methods. Every day, students and adults who are given cognitive and neurodevelopmental interventions to strengthen their brains are showing us that they are more than an IQ score and that they are able to unlock their full, God-given potential!
Read on to learn all about the science and research behind the “intelligence quotient,” and how you can help your child intellectually flourish.
In 1905, Frenchman Alfred Binet noticed something interesting: one of his daughters seemed to possess more cognitive development than the other. His observations led him to develop and refine his groundbreaking concept of intelligence, which led to other innovative discoveries in science and psychology, including the first ever cognitive—or IQ—test. We believe that understanding IQ, IQ testing, and different scientific perspectives on IQ can offer guidance to help you as you educate your student.
• What is IQ? IQ is an abbreviation for “intelligence quotient,” which is an individual’s intellectual ability—which is why many refer to a person’s intelligence as their IQ.
• Can I test my child’s IQ myself? Yes! But don’t rely on online tests: there are plenty of robust, peer-reviewed tests that give more accurate results. For example, the well-known Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-V (WISC-V) is organized into five areas of cognitive functioning to generate a full-scale IQ: verbal comprehension, visual-spatial index, fluid reasoning, working memory, and processing speed index. And the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities IV is a comprehensive assessment measuring specific cognitive abilities, general intellectual ability, oral language abilities, and academic achievement. To find out more about the Wechsler Intelligence Scale or Woodcock-Johnson Tests, visit hslda.org/Q318WIS or hslda.org/Q318CogTests.
• What is an average IQ score? The average IQ score range is 85–110. The borderline range in terms of intellectual ability is an IQ of 71–85.
• At what score is an intellectual disability generally defined? An IQ score of 65–75 is the criterion for the diagnosis of an intellectual disability, and further assessments by a clinician are recommended to determine severity level. There are four levels of severity: mild, moderate, severe, and profound.
• Is IQ a predictor of one’s ability to learn or to be independent? While IQ is commonly thought to predict one’s ability to learn or be independent, it is more of a static assessment or snapshot—that is, it focuses on what a learner knows at the time of the test, rather than how much they can grow intellectually. This is because a participant’s success on the test is based on the ability to give the correct response in the allotted time, with the scores of learners with autism normed or compared to scores of “typical” learners.
While IQ is commonly thought to predict one’s ability to learn or be independent, it is more of a static assessment or snapshot.
• Can IQ change over time? Proponents of a fixist point of view believe that change in functioning and behavior cannot be made beyond a certain level. This means that if your child tests for a certain IQ at an early point in their life, it is virtually impossible for them to change it in the future.
We disagree, and so did Alfred Binet, the seminal thinker regarding intelligence and cognitive abilities: “Some assert that an individual’s intelligence is a fixed quantity which cannot be increased. We must protest and react against this brutal pessimism.” There is a mountain of evidence suggesting that as the human brain develops over time, it is able to make new connections in the world—that means that your child can learn, and increase their IQ!
Because of this, I (Dr. Carol Brown) developed the Equipping Minds Cognitive Development Curriculum, a holistic cognitive development program. Through one-on-one interactions between children and adults, clinical observations of learners, and careful analysis of the available psychological and educational data, the Equipping Minds curriculum has successfully helped students reach new intellectual heights! (To learn more about the Equipping Minds Curriculum, see the resource list below.)
“Intelligence is changeable and modifiable regardless of age, neurodevelopment conditions, genetics, and development disability. ”
• How early can my child take a cognitive test? While cognitive testing can begin as early as 2 years of age, many clinicians will prefer to wait until your child is 6.
• What is an example of the type of questions one might find on an IQ test? One possible sort of question is the Matrices Area Nonverbal Test. These are composed of several items which involve objects, designs, and symbols. They resemble puzzles which involve nonverbal reasoning in applying a problem-solving strategy to find the missing piece.
• What if my child is non-verbal, or low-verbal?
There are many cognitive tests which an evaluator may select based on
the abilities of the child. For example, the Raven’s Progressive
Matrices (RPM) is a nonverbal group test typically used in educational
settings. It is used in measuring abstract reasoning and is regarded as
an estimate of fluid intelligence independent of verbal skills. You can
find out more about the RPM at hslda.org/Q318Raven .
• What percentage of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) also have an intellectual disability? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that 38% of children with ASD had an intellectual disability in 2008. Furthermore, 24% of children with ASD were considered in the borderline range in terms of intellectual ability, with an IQ of 71–85. A higher proportion of females with ASD had an Intellectual Disability (46%) compared with males (37%).
• Are there certain IQ tests that tend to do a better job at measuring the intellectual ability of a child with autism?
Some evaluators prefer the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT-2) as
it correlates with the WISC. The KBIT-2 has a verbal and nonverbal
subtest, and can be administered in 30 minutes. (For more IQ assessments
and cognitive tests, visit hslda.org/Q318IQTests 
.)
• What else do you think is important for parents to know about IQ/cognitive testing? A number does not define your child. There are many things that intelligence and cognitive testing do not measure—including emotional maturity and future aptitude for learning. Tests simply provide a snapshot of your child on a particular day—a day on which your child may have been particularly anxious, especially because they were with a person they did not know. As Dr. Reuven Feuerstein states in Changing Minds and Brains, “Intelligence is changeable and modifiable regardless of age, neurodevelopment conditions, genetics, and development disability.”*
Here at HSLDA, we are always available to help you as you seek to
help your students intellectually flourish. Feel free to call or email
us at members.hslda.org .
We would love to hear from you, and are looking forward to answering
your specific questions and connecting you with tools and resources to
equip your child to not only learn successfully, but also enjoy the
process! 
Endnotes* Feuerstein, Reuven, Louis H. Falik, Refael S. Feuerstein, Shmuel Feuerstein, and H. Carl Haywood. Changing Minds and Brains: The Legacy of Reuven Feuerstein: Higher Thinking and Cognition through Mediated Learning. New York: Teachers College Press, Columbia University, 2015.
shares the books she’s found most helpful and why you might as well.
Colleen is a gifted specialist, educational consultant, author, speaker,
and homeschooling mom.
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