Students come routinely to be tested to determine if they have a condition that may warrant test accommodations by either their school/university or a testing agency. Recently, a young man came to see me for testing before applying to take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) examination.
We tested him in accord with the LSAT guidelines and requirements. The LSAT is very specific about the tests they require to be administered and how the scores are reported; otherwise, the report is rejected.
As I reviewed the test scores with James, I recounted his IQ test scores. At first, James was surprised I had administered an IQ test, though I explained the LSAT required this. I told James he was bright and had a verbal intelligence score in the high average range and an overall score in the Average range because his attention (working memory) and processing speed were low (part of his condition warranting additional time on tests). James was surprised. He said that he had been tested before, and his IQ test scores were much higher. I asked James if he could obtain the report.
A day later, James emailed me a pdf of his prior testing, and we were both astonished. His verbal score went from 140 before to 110 now, a 30 point decline! His overall score went from 122 to 102 now.
This decline was dramatic and somewhat concerning. I reviewed James' scores, with his permission, with his psychiatrist. We both agreed the most probable cause was the medication cocktail the psychiatrist had prescribed, but just to be safe, the psychiatrist asked a neurologist to examine James. The psychiatrist is in the process of reviewing James' medications to see if some can be changed or reduced to minimize the cognitive effects, and a neurologic exam is being scheduled.
James' documented change in IQ is, itself, evidence of a condition warranting testing accommodations. Still, the testing pointed out that James may be able to function much better if his medications can be adjusted to return him to his prior, higher functioning IQ. Without the prior testing, we might have just concluded James had slow processing speed due to a learning disability. With the prior testing, we see a 20 point IQ change that demands explanation and modification of his treatment.
Be sure to keep all copies of your prior testing--James' case illustrates the results may come in very handy one day.
