Intellectual & Adaptive Functioning Evaluations

Intellectual functioning, also called intelligence (IQ), refers to general mental capacity, such as learning, reasoning, and problem solving. Adaptive functioning is the collection of conceptual, social, and practical skills that are learned and performed by people in their everyday lives. Intellectual disability is a disability characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual and adaptive functioning.

In addition to intellectual disability, there are many conditions that can present with low IQ and/or impaired adaptive functioning. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation to determine the causes of these deficits is best practice to ensure diagnostic accuracy, as well as to create an accurate and effective treatment plan. At Spectrum, an intellectual and adaptive functioning assessment typically involves direct testing with the client, and may include the following components:

A diagnostic interview with the parent/caregiver that includes developmental history and current concerns
A diagnostic clinical interview with the client
Intelligence testing
Academic achievement screening in all areas of reading, written expression, and mathematics
Executive functioning
Phonological processing
Language screening
Learning and Memory
Social, emotional, and behavioral questionnaires completed by parents/caregivers, client, spouse, etc.
Input from teachers and review of curriculum-based measures, grades, and work samples
School observation (if applicable)
A comprehensive written report
An interactive feedback session with families to review the results & recommendations