[Sunshinemom]

I have a quick question that I'm hoping someone can help me with. We're in the process of adopting our nearly 3 year old son. We're having him tested by our school district for speech services and hopefully OT to help with is fine motor skills.

One of his many assessments is a psychological evaluation. The evaluator explained to me that if I put down he was African American on the form then they could not administer an IQ test to him. It's a law that they can't do it, thought I could have it done elsewhere. He is multi-racial though to "the world" would appear to be African American. Now I don't have any concerns that would lead me to want an IQ test, nor do I want him to have a "label" following him around in his file of a test he took before he turned 3. At the time they explained this to me I was trying to do 5 things at once and didn't listen too well. I'm not having it done but I still don't have a good understanding of why they would not administer the test to African Americans. I'm sure I can call them and get an explanation, but was wondering if any of you have experience with this.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[SuzBerg]

I would call the school (or person who told you they wouldn't administer the test) and get the explanation.

[jessevch]

Chances are the test that they use are ethno centric (I believe that is the correct term). What it means is that it was developed using norms from a specific social and ethnic group and because the AA experience is very different, the results cannot be considered valid. Although they use race as the deciding factor, that is based on the assumption that all AA children have been raised in an AA environment. This should not necessarily apply to an AA child who was raised in a white home. So depending on where your little guy was raised, this may or may not be an issue.

[scandi]

I am not sure about the not testing thing. My youngest is AA and was given an IQ test at age 4. I don't believe it is accurate though but that is because his behaviors were so out of control and he was on a ton of meds.

[rindava]

it might be local policy... it certainly is not a national thing, they do give IQ tests to AA

but in all the classes I have ever had they do talk about how unreliable they are for African AMerician Population as they test usually were made by caus. on stuff they would know... etc... we are told to be very careful before dx a kid who is AA mentally retarded...

also, unless you have top notch SpEd in your area, and even if you do, you will get better services, if the child has medicaid, but taking him to a private medicaid provider and getting weekly direct services..

If you lived where I live, I'd tell you not even to bother with trying to get any help from SpEd...