#global development delay

FSIQ and ID

[Large text: FSIQ and ID]

FSIQ (Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient) is like IQ (Intelligence Quotient), but it's more comprehensive. IQ testing is quicker, and may not be as accurate as an FSIQ. FSIQ tests are longer and take more things into account.

A lot of people think that low (FS)IQ means having an intellectual disability, however this is not always the case.

An FSIQ score is used to have a picture of a person's cognitive abilities. It takes into account a person's memory, verbal and nonverbal reasoning ability and processing speed.

This means it doesn't necessarily point to an ID diagnosis, but it shows where a person's cognitive strengths and weaknesses are (such as giftedness or learning disabilities).

In a way, you're right about it showing the person's average day. However, it's more nuanced than that. A person can have good days and bad days that will influence the score, as well as other things that I'll mention a bit further down.

Below Average FSIQ (the one you have according to your papers, I'm assuming) means you have cognitive abilities that aren't as high as the average person, but doesn't inherintly point to a cognitive or intellectual disability.

A person can have low (FS)IQ without an ID, even if this can be a sign to do further testing. It could be due to a Global Developmental Delay (GDD), in which the milestones are met later during development, or to Borderline Intellectual Functioning, which means there's just enough symptoms to say it causes problems to the person, but not enough for an actual ID diagnosis (This could be another reason your parents don't tell you you have ID, if it's due to another cause).

What can affect FSIQ (or IQ) tests?

[Large text: What can affet FSIQ (or IQ) tests?]

There are other reasons than ID for an (FS)IQ test gives lower results than expected. It could be due to the circumstances or to another diagnosis (as mentioned above).

For example, autism can affect the results of testing. Due to my autism (and other diagnosises), my IQ was too complicated to calculate. It's not necessarily the same for every autistic person, but since you mentioned in a previous ask that you also are autistic, that may be a reason your score was lower, especially if you are a higher level of autism.

It doesn't mean that autistic people necessarily have low IQ, just that our difficulties interfere with some of the tests, in which we could normally have a higher score. For example, we could misunderstand a question or a concept, which leads to a bunch of inaccuracies in the result.

A lot of other things can affect an (FS)IQ test, such as the state of the person taking it. For example, if you were feeling a lot of stress or anxiety, it's possible that it made you more prone to brain fogs, decision paralysis or impulsivity, which definitely can interfere with results.

Fatigue or lack of motivation are more things to consider when thinking about an (FS)IQ test. If you weren't interested at all in the tests and gave minimal effort, it's also possible your results were affected.

Other than that, an (FS)IQ test can be affected by education, culture, language barrier or changes through time.

There are a lot of things that an (FS)IQ test doesn't take into account, such as creativity, wisom, etc.

Closing thoughts

[Large text: Closing thoughts]

Do you remember doing the test at all? If you remember how you were feeling and how you were answering the questions (eg. unmotivated, anxious, uninterested...) this could point to a reason why you might have a low (FS)IQ score.

However, I'm not saying that you don't have a low FSIQ and your test was wrong. I'm only pointing out that the test itself is not absolute and can't be used as only proof for what you're saying.

The fact that you had an FSIQ test done before, however, might be interesting to bring up with your parents. They were probably aware of why you had one done. Personally, I would bring that up with the low score (instead of only the low score).

If you can read more into the details of the papers with your FSIQ score, you could find some more informations (eg. what type of professional did it, where, when, for what...). Maybe you could find something related to your concerns in there (for example, if you went to a clinic or a professional specialized in ID, that could be another thing to bring up with your parents).

I hope you get the answers you want, and I'm sorry I can't be of more help. I hope I cleared things up a little bit, at least. Thank you again for your trust!