Measures of Intelligence and Adaptive Behavior

Measures of intelligence and adaptive behavior

Heather Milstead Sped 435 Spring '24

Measures of Intelligence Adaptive Behavior

“Assessment of each is a required component in the diagnosis or identification of intellectual disability, and both are frequently used conjointly in the assessment and identification of other developmental disabilities.” https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED577656

• 1800s- Sir Francis Galton developed the first broad test of intelligence
• -early 1900s-Alfred Binet began recording reliable test data
• 1939- David Wechsler, psychologist, developed a new IQ test tapping into verbal and nonverbal skills
• Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale
• now known as:
• Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-fourth edition (WAIS-IV)
• Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V)
• Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence—IV (WPPSI-IV)

History of the IQ test

“Children who seem to be experiencing learning difficulties or severe behavioral problems can be tested to ascertain whether the child’s difficulties can be partly attributed to an IQ score that is significantly different from the mean for her age group. Without IQ testing—or another measure of intelligence—children and adults needing extra support might not be identified effectively. In addition, IQ testing is used in courts to determine whether a defendant has special or extenuating circumstances that preclude him from participating in some way in a trial. People also use IQ testing results to seek disability benefits from the Social Security Administration” (lumenlearning)

“ Adaptive behavior and intelligence are both essential components of defining and diagnosing intellectual disability. The exact relationship between these two constructs still warrants some clarification.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10045280/

“ Psychologists lump together a person’s focused attention, self-control and problem-solving into a skill they call executive function. The brain cells behind executive function are known as the executive control network. This network turns on when someone is taking an IQ test. Many of the same brain areas are involved in fluid intelligence.” (https://www.snexplores.org/article/what-iq-and-how-much-does-it-matter)

Major Types of Intelligence Theories • General intelligence • Primary mental abilities • Multiple intelligences • The triarchic approach to intelligence

Some key areas assessed by many IQ tests:

• Logic
• spatial awareness
• verbal reasoning
• visual abilities

Adaptive Behaviors

Conceptual Skills

Social Skills

Practical Skills

• Personal Care (ADL's)
• occupational skills
• using money
• safety
• health care
• travel/transportation
• schedules/routines
• using a phone

• interpersonal
• social responsibility
• self-esteem
• naïveté
• social problem solving
• following rules/laws
• avoid being victimized

• Literacy
• self-direction
• concept of money
• concept of numbers
• concept of time

"Adaptive behavior is a different concept than intelligence. Adaptive behaviors are learned behaviors that reflect an individual's social and practical competence to meet the demands of everyday living." (www.aaidd.org)

Adaptive behavior assessments measures specific, comprehensive skills necessary for independent living. This is important in eligibility considerations when discussing transition programs, life skills, and developing effective education plans.

The measurements of intelligence and adaptive behaviors are important individually but more so as a unit as they are large components of "intellectual disability". Above all else, ID doesn't have a "face" so you cannot look at someone and know they have an ID disability. This video, where it starts at 1:22, is probably one of the most important things we can learn and put to practice as educators.

References

• https://www.aaidd.org/intellectual-disability/definition/adaptive-behavior#:~:text=Adaptive%20behaviors%20are%20learned%20behaviors,learn%20a%20set%20of%20skills.Bulleted list
• https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-genius-iq-score-2795585
• https://www.verywellmind.com/theories-of-intelligence-2795035
• https://www.snexplores.org/article/what-iq-and-how-much-does-it-matter)
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10045280/
• https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-fmcc-intropsych/chapter/measures-of-intelligence/
• https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED577656
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0891422221002663