How can I help my child with iq?

Question

My daughter is now 6. She has a very severe anxiety problem that is hereditary in my family. She is repeating kindergarten because is affected her work, even though she knew mostly everything now she is doing extremely well and meeting all milestones and at the top of her class. We have noticed a big change since she has been put on anti-anxiety meds. Last year we had her tested for special services before she was diagnosed with anxiety and her iq was 80. However she was scared and would not talk for a good portion of the test and would only go if her classroom teacher went. My question is could her result be incorrect based on her severe anxiety?

Answer 1

I believe the test result may be inaccurate because of her anxiety. If a child will not/can not answer questions because they are preoccupied with something else, it will definitely affect the results of the IQ test. 80 is in the lower range of scores so I definitely think that if she is at the top of her class, that score is not accurate!

Answer 2

When your out and about or in the house make words a game or funny song she have fun with realizing that she is learning. I have a 2 children recieving special services for a similar problem. I take things and pretend I am one of them and I can't read it or can't hear what the tv or radio said and I kindly ask him what that cartoon character said or wrote and suprisingly they will tell me exactly what I need to know. When we are out I will read something they will reconize and play pretend child and start reading small words slowly like I can't read and they will finish it for me. Most kids enjoy simple games when they don't realize your teaching them.

Answer 3

I'm so sorry to hear of your daughter's difficulties.  Anxiety does affect the score on IQ tests, because a wrong answer due to anxiety is still a "wrong" answer. If your daughter cannot answer a question due to anxiety they just mark it incorrect.  I have a good friend who tested very low in kindergarten but is actually quite gifted,  and another friend who tested at multiple levels from retarded to gifted (he's a genius).  Does he have to be tested? If so, the school needs to provide for her special needs.  If they won't, you might consider homeschooling her.   I wish you and your daughter all the best.

Answer 4

iq grows as brain grows. Is she getting therapy thru the state or your insurance ?

we have to opposite problem my 4 yr old has asd ( autism spectrum disorder ) even though they cant test him for IQ we've been told by psychologist and therapist his IQ is off the chart and we will have a hard time keeping up with him.

I would just work with her in social situations to make her more comfortable, just remember to breathe ! good luck

Answer 5

I would say that the result could defiantly be incorrect. If she was too anxious to preform properly then the results they got could be skewed. Now that she is doing better have her test again just to be sure.

Also, if they do find she has some special needs do not let them tell you she needs special classes for everything. This happened to me...my weakest point was in math, my strongest in reading, yet in 4th grade I was placed in remedial classes for math, reading and spelling. It really stunk, and I got a lot of ridicule. I loved it for math though because the pace was much slower and I worked better that way. In reading it kind of stunk because it was a strong point for me and they went too slowly.

Accept only what help she really needs and urge her to embrace her strengths and to take the regular classes. It will just help her more in the long run.

Answer 6

You need to make learning and testing fun and not a test of her worthiness.  Learning for its own sake and not because of a test.  How you handle this will determine her entire approach to staying in school and enjoying it for the rest of her life.  Read with her a lot - taking turns.  When she does something good, praise her and when she flubs it, be gentle in your correction.  Let her figure out problems on her own but be with her to encourage her.  You don't want her to start using you as a crutch and the answer to everything, right?  As a parent you wouldn't be doing her any favors to do her homework for her, for example, but you should create a calm, supportive home environment where she can spend quiet time studying (no music, no TV, no interruptions) in the family area.  No kid that age wants to be banished to their room to do homework while everyone else is having more fun doing other stuff.  Check her work to make sure it's all done.  

When she comes home from school, let her eat and have a short break before doing her homework.  Someone responsible and learning-oriented should be there every day when she gets home from school, as they should for every child.

Answer 7

It could but it's unlikely.  If you would like to improve her IQ read to her all the time. Pick out simple words and have her tell you what they are. Words work miracles but it will only improve her by 3-5 points.

The best thing you can do for her is love her as she is and let it go.