Slow as Molasses in January--Processing Speed Index

Hey folks, Atro here....

I came across an interesting article entitled Processing Speed and the Gifted Child. 

On IQ tests, there are several subtests.  One of these is called the Processing Speed Index.  Unlike other parts of the IQ test which requires more complex thought (recall of information, puzzle solving, etc) Processing speed is pretty much transferring information as quickly as possible.

So you might have a list of single digit numbers and a grid.  You have to just put the same numbers in the same box on the grid as fast as possible.

Here is the thing...very often Outliers struggle with Processing Speed so much that the score can be one, two, or even more standard deviations below the rest of their scores.  Some of this is due to perfectionism--you are supposed to write as FAST as you can and it can be sloppy, but sometimes Outliers do not want to sacrifice precision for speed or they actually CAN'T sacrifice precision for speed.  Sometimes there are underlying problems, such as dyslexia or dysgraphia that inhibits the Outlier from scribbling quickly.

I know of one young man whose PSI score was subnormal--not just sub "gifted" but actually below what a neurotypical person would score.  It was several standard deviations below the rest of his ability.  Another young woman's PSI was so low in comparison to the rest of her scores that the psychologist actually threw it out.

We won't go into the deeper discussion of the ceilings on IQ tests or which tests are appropriate and which are not right now.  However, do understand that, since they use PSI as part of the Full Scale score, it might artificially depress his or her IQ meaning he might not make cut offs for gifted classes in education simply because he is too much of a perfectionist to scribble.  His "giftedness" is getting in the way of his "giftedness".  In that case you might need to go to bat for your Outlier if the system is balking.  It is never wise to let one score depress the entire IQ score.  One must look at the subtests. 

Incidentally, this also can help point out a twice exceptionality as explained in the article.