Giftedness Screening Assessment

Intellectual testing for identification and academic placement

WHAT IS GIFTEDNESS?

Giftedness refers to a child’s intellectual or other abilities are significantly above that of other children their age. Typically, a child is considered to be gifted in a certain area if their ability in that are is in the top 10% of their age-matched peer group. A child can be gifted in any number of areas, such as intellectually (thinking and reasoning at a high level), creatively, artistically, mathematically, or physically, for example.

The Ministry of Education and Training for the province of Ontario has adopted a definition of “giftedness” which is as follows:

“An unusually advanced degree of general intellectual ability that requires differentiated learning experiences of a depth the breadth beyond those normally provided in the regular school program to satisfy the level of educational potential indicated.”

This means a child is deemed gifted if their overall level of intelligence is significantly higher than age-matched peers such that the child requires more challenging learning activities than is typically provided at their Grade level.

SHOULD I HAVE MY CHILD TESTED?

Does your child show…

  • Unusual alertness (even in infancy)
  • Quick learner; puts thoughts together and solves mental problems quickly
  • Excellent memory, attention, problem solving, vocabulary, or math skills
  • Learn skills quickly and with little practice (tying shoelaces, dressing self, learning to read)
  • Deep, intense feelings and reactions
  • Highly sensitive
  • Preoccupied with own thoughts—daydreamer
  • Highly developed curiosity
  • Keen sense of humor
  • Vivid imaginations

If so, a Giftedness Screening Assessment may be helpful. If identified as Gifted, our psychologists can work with you and your child’s school board to help them access a gifted program, where your child can develop their strengths and talents further.

Exceptionally capable learners are children who progress in learning at a significantly faster pace than do other children of the same age, often resulting in high marks in school or exceptional sports performance. Early identification in school improves the likelihood that gifts will be developed into talents.

School boards across Ontario vary in their procedures for identifying gifted students. However, most school boards require an abbreviated psychological assessment, which evaluates intellectual ability, to identify children who may require a Gifted special education program.

WHY IS MY GIFTED CHILD STRUGGLING?

Without extra challenge in their schooling, gifted students are at risk of becoming bored and frustrated with school, which can lead to low marks, disinterest in school, or unhelpful work habits.

Some gifted students also have learning disabilities that can mask their giftedness, and vice versa. Often these “twice-exceptional” students go undetected because their learning disability and giftedness mask each other, making them perform with “average” marks.

OUR GIFTEDNESS SCREENING ASSESSMENTS

The best time to test gifted children is between the ages of 4 and 8. However, many gifted children are identified after the age of 8 years.

A Giftedness Screening Assessment consists of a one-hour intake interview with a psychologist or clinician under the supervision of a psychologist. Following the interview, your child will undergo intellectual testing, which takes about 90 minutes or so to complete). Following testing, a brief report will be prepared by the psychologist, and the psychologist will meet with you to review the results during a 30-minute feedback session. Depending on your child’s specific needs, the psychologist may communicate with the school on your behalf if this is helpful.

Our Child & Teen Psychologists & Therapists

Compassionate, knowledgeable clinicians in Burlington & St. Catharines

Our licensed psychologists provide Giftedness Assessment Screening as well as psychoeducational testing, diagnosis, and/or treatment for individuals from four years of age through adulthood presenting with:

For children, parents are closely involved in the assessment and treatment process every step of the way.

Dr. Carol-Anne Hendry

Psychologist (Children, Teens, Adults) - Burlington & Online

Primary Practice Areas: Trauma; Eating disorders; Relationship difficulties; Self-esteem; & Anxiety. Populations: Chi [...]

Dr. Nicole Law

Neuropsychologist & School Psychologist (Children, Teens) - All Locations & Online

Primary Areas: ADD/ADHD; Autism spectrum disorder; Learning disabilities; Giftedness; Developmental delay/intellectual disability; [...]

Sarah Fisher, M.Ed.

Psychometrist (Children, Teens) St. Catharines

Primary Areas: Learning disabilities; ADHD; Location: St. Catharines Licensing Body: Ms. Fisher's services are provided under [...]

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