Does it make sense to have your child tested for giftedness?

Some parents of gifted children ponder the rationale behind testing their child. Having noticed their child's alignment with various lists of gifted traits circulating on the internet, these parents harbor suspicions regarding their child's potential to be (highly) gifted or to possess a developmental edge during early childhood. However, they frequently hesitate to voice these thoughts due to potential negative reactions from their surroundings. What initially remains a tentative notion, they seek to validate - or refute - through a diagnostic assessment.

Discovering that your child may be (highly) gifted is certainly a valid reason for testing, yet there exist other motivations for parents to seek evaluation.

In instances where parents muster the courage to voice these suspicions at school after much deliberation, it occasionally occurs that the school does not immediately acknowledge this possibility. This may be due to the fact that the characteristics of giftedness in the child are not always readily apparent within the school environment. If the school hesitates and does not promptly address the parents' request for providing appropriate challenges for the child, it may be advisable to pursue testing. Witnessing the term "gifted" alongside a high IQ score on paper can sometimes prompt educators or care coordinators to reassess the situation. This acknowledgment may catalyze the school to take proactive measures and devise a tailored intervention plan.

Other parents may initiate testing out of curiosity, desiring to gauge the extent of their child's intelligence. While this motive may appear presumptuous to some, it is comprehensible. Particularly with profoundly gifted children, it can offer parents insight into the challenges their child might face in adapting to their environment, fostering greater understanding and support from them.

Occasionally, gifted children themselves request testing to affirm their own identity. This situation arises, especially among those whose siblings have already been identified as gifted, leading them to question their abilities despite their presumed giftedness, as it has not been formally acknowledged.

Requests for testing may also originate from the school or the Center for Pupil Guidance (CLB). Typically, this occurs during the expansion of support services when a child exhibits additional learning difficulties or is experiencing academic underperformance or emotional distress. Sometimes, schools may seek an IQ score to qualify a student for participation in a gifted program like an enrichment class. However, we do not advocate solely relying on IQ scores for program placement; alternative methods exist to identify students suitable for such opportunities.

When assessing gifted children, it's crucial for the examiner to possess a deep understanding of giftedness and the cognitive processes unique to these children. Gifted individuals often breeze through initial questions, seeking out hidden complexities, which may lead them to overthink and provide incorrect answers. It's only when faced with more challenging tasks that their true capabilities shine through. However, testing protocols typically mandate termination after three consecutive wrong answers, potentially resulting in an underestimated evaluation of the child's true potential. It's imperative for the examiner to recognize this limitation, probing further and documenting observations in the final report accordingly.
Furthermore, it is important that the child is tested in a quiet environment where it feels safe and can relax. Testing the child in the hallway in school while the other children are playing on the playground is not recommended.

There are various options for having your child tested. Sometimes, the child is assessed at the CLB (Center for Student Counseling) affiliated with your child's school. However, the CLB is not primarily a testing center and conducts examinations only when necessary, such as when the child encounters difficulties at school. In such cases, the assessment is typically free of charge. However, not every CLB staff member may have experience in testing gifted children. It's advisable to inquire with other parents about their experiences in this regard.

Another option is to enroll your child in a private testing center, a psychologist's private practice, or with a psychiatrist. Here, you can receive not only testing but also additional diagnostics and/or guidance for your child. It's essential to thoroughly inform yourself before proceeding in any of these avenues.