Is Your Child Struggling in School? Maybe it’s time for a WISC-V

Can the WISC-V be used to determine Giftedness / Heightened Intelligence in Children?  

Absolutely! The WISC-V can be used to assess intelligence across a broad spectrum. In fact, many professionals in the field of neuropsychology consider the WISC-V to be the most comprehensive and reliable measure of giftedness. Over 70 years of research has gone into the development of the test, with continual advancements and adjustments made for new findings in various fields. That’s why it is important to us that we invest in having the most up-to-date versions of the test to best support our clients.

How can the WISC-V help my Child?

To break this down a bit more, WISC-V can help identify underlying learning disorders and various academic weaknesses, which can be the first step towards getting your child the help they need. It can also be used to highlight how your child learns best and allow recommendations to be made for how their learning style can be incorporated more heavily into their schooling environment. On the other hand, it can also allow insight for gifted children by providing recommendations for a more challenging learning style in school and for engagement in advanced educational programs.

How Long Does the WISC-V take?

The length of the test varies depending on the child and their performance, but it usually ranges from 1-2 hours. However, it is important to remember that the length of time the assessment takes is not a valid predictor of test performance. It’s also important to consider that your child may perform generally better or worse on the WISC-V than their school grades might suggest. This is because there are numerous factors and/or barriers that could be impacting your child’s performance, such as social issues, stress, performance anxiety, issues with memory etc. However, valuable information can be gained from identifying both their academic strengths, as well as their weaknesses. For example, identifying strengths can help inform us of how your child learns most effectively. In turn, these learning methods can be incorporated more heavily into their education plan. Furthermore, highlighting weaknesses can help inform academic struggles and/or underlying learning disorders. This can allow for interventions to be made that will target your child’s weaknesses and improve their ability to learn in school. 

What Happens After my Child Completes a WISC-V Assessment?

Our psychologists are always working away behind the scenes following the completion of an assessment. They’re busy scoring, analysing, and discussing WISC-V profiles with their supervisors. A large amount of time is then spent writing thorough reports that are useful and helpful to assist parents/carers in understanding and determining the right interventions for their child. Assessment results are compiled into a comprehensive psychological report that includes clinical observations, background information, analysis of test results and practical recommendations that can also inform the development of individualised intervention and learning plans.

It’s important to our whole team that the process be as thorough as possible. Our psychologists make sure to observe each child closely while they’re being assessed. That way, they can get an overall picture of what factors may be influencing their performance. And importantly, while the test may seem intense on paper, it is actually a fun and engaging process for kids, and one that helps our psychologists to get to know them and build rapport. From there, further testing may be recommended. We always like to combine the WISC-V and WIAT-3 assessments together to get the most comprehensive insight into a child’s learning ability.

What’s the WIAT-3? We’ll be telling you all about the WIAT in another blog soon!

When it comes to addressing problems or untapped potentials in learning, socialising or in emotions, early intervention is key. A learning assessment can be a great way to help your child thrive academically and boost their confidence in school.

At CQ Psych Services, we have several psychologists and provisional psychologists on site who are qualified in administering this assessment. Call our friendly admin team to receive quotes for this assessment and book your child in today!