Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling

Table of Contents - 01 December 2006 - Volume 16, Issue 02  

Articles

Assessing Intellectual Disability in Children: Are IQ Measures Sufficient, or Even Necessary?

Susan Colmara1 c1, Amanda Maxwella2 and Leanne Millera3

a1 University of Sydney, Australia. s.colmar@edfac.usyd.edu.au

a2 North East London Mental Health Trust, United Kingdom.

a3 Sydney Church of England Grammar School, Australia.

Abstract

A number of critical issues concerning the assessment of children with intellectual disabilities, including definitional problems, psychometric factors, and practical difficulties, are raised in this article. It is suggested that school counsellors and psychologists should consider these issues when assessing children with probable or known intellectual disabilities, particularly when using IQ tests. The use of adaptive scales as an additional means of defining and measuring intellectual disability is also examined. Although no ideal means of formally assessing children with intellectual disabilities is put forward, a range of concerns is explored and some suggestions for appropriate additions and caveats to present practice are proposed.

Correspondence:

c1 Address for Correspondence: Dr Susan Colmar, Program Coordinator for School Counselling, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.