Bright Future Psychology provides individualized gifted testing and IQ testing for children and teens in Naples and Southwest Florida.
Testing can help families understand a child’s cognitive abilities, explore possible giftedness, support educational planning, and identify twice-exceptional needs when advanced abilities occur alongside ADHD, autism, dyslexia or another learning difference.
Appointments are typically available within 1–2 weeks, and reports are generally completed about one week after testing.
Families may consider gifted or cognitive testing when:
• A child learns new concepts unusually quickly
• Vocabulary or reasoning appears advanced for the child’s age
• The child asks complex questions or shows intense curiosity
• Academic work seems too easy or insufficiently challenging
• The child is being considered for a gifted or advanced academic program
• A public, charter or private school has requested cognitive testing
• Parents want a clearer understanding of the child’s intellectual strengths
• Strong abilities coexist with inconsistent school performance
• The child appears gifted but also struggles with attention, organization, reading, writing or emotional regulation
• Previous testing produced an incomplete or confusing picture
• Updated documentation is needed for educational planning
Testing can provide useful information, but giftedness is broader than a single score. The psychologist considers the child’s developmental history, observed approach to problem-solving, score patterns and the purpose of the evaluation.
An individually administered IQ test evaluates several areas of cognitive functioning. Depending on the instrument and the child’s age, these may include:
Verbal Reasoning
The ability to understand language, explain ideas, form verbal concepts and use acquired knowledge.
Visual-Spatial Reasoning
The ability to analyze visual information, understand spatial relationships and solve problems using visual details.
Fluid Reasoning
The ability to recognize patterns, apply logic and solve unfamiliar problems.
Working Memory
The ability to hold and mentally manipulate information over a short period.
Processing Speed
The efficiency and accuracy with which a person completes straightforward visual tasks under time limits.
Some tests provide an overall IQ or general cognitive score as well as separate scores describing different areas of functioning. The pattern among these scores may be as informative as the overall result.
The appropriate evaluation depends on the family’s questions and the intended use of the results.
Individual IQ and Gifted Testing
This focused evaluation is intended primarily to assess cognitive abilities and explore possible giftedness.
It may include:
• Parent consultation and developmental history
• Individual cognitive or IQ testing
• Behavioral observations
• Review of relevant records when available
• Explanation of the child’s cognitive strengths and score profile
• Feedback with the psychologist
• A written report describing the findings
This option may be appropriate when the referral question is limited to cognitive ability or possible giftedness and there are no significant academic, attention, developmental or emotional concerns.
Comprehensive Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Evaluation
A comprehensive evaluation is appropriate when a child shows advanced abilities but also experiences difficulties involving academics, attention, executive functioning, behavior, social communication, emotional regulation or daily functioning.
The comprehensive evaluation may include:
• Comprehensive cognitive testing
• Academic-achievement testing
• Attention and continuous-performance testing
• Performance-based executive-functioning measures
• Executive-function rating scales
• Learning and memory testing
• Behavioral and emotional rating scales
• Parent and teacher information
• Review of school records and previous testing
• Additional autism, ADHD or learning-disability measures when indicated
This broader approach helps identify both exceptional strengths and areas requiring support.
Focused Gifted and IQ Testing — $800
This focused evaluation includes:
• Parent consultation and developmental history
• Individual cognitive or IQ testing using an age-appropriate measure
• Behavioral observations during testing
• Review of relevant records when available
• Explanation of the child’s cognitive strengths and score profile
• Feedback meeting with the psychologist
• Written report describing the results and educational considerations
The $800 gifted-testing option is intended primarily to evaluate cognitive abilities and possible giftedness. It does not include comprehensive assessment of academic achievement, ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, executive functioning, memory or emotional functioning.
When broader concerns are present, the psychologist may recommend a comprehensive gifted or twice-exceptional evaluation. The scope and fee will be explained before testing begins.
The psychologist selects the cognitive assessment according to the person’s age, language, background, referral questions and individual needs.
Commonly used measures include:
Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV)
An individually administered cognitive assessment for young children. It measures areas such as verbal comprehension, visual-spatial reasoning, working memory and processing speed.
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V)
Our most commonly used cognitive assessment for school-age children and adolescents. It provides an overall measure of cognitive ability along with scores describing verbal comprehension, visual-spatial reasoning, fluid reasoning, working memory and processing speed.
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fifth Edition (WAIS-5)
A comprehensive measure of adult cognitive abilities that may be appropriate for older adolescents and adults.
Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales, Second Edition (RIAS-2)
An individually administered measure of verbal and nonverbal intelligence. It may be selected when a streamlined or alternative approach to cognitive assessment is clinically appropriate.
Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition, Normative Update (KABC-II NU)
An individually administered measure of cognitive processing and problem-solving for children and adolescents. It may be useful when the referral questions or the child’s background make an alternative cognitive framework appropriate.
The same test is not appropriate for every person. The psychologist determines which instrument will provide the most valid and useful information.
A twice-exceptional child has advanced or gifted abilities together with a disability or other area of need.
Examples may include giftedness occurring alongside:
• ADHD
• Dyslexia or another learning disability
• Autism
• Executive-functioning difficulties
• Anxiety or emotional-regulation concerns
• Developmental differences
Twice-exceptional children can be difficult to identify because strengths and challenges may conceal one another.
High reasoning abilities may allow a child to compensate for weak reading, writing, attention or executive functioning. At the same time, a learning or attention difficulty may prevent the child’s gifted abilities from being reflected in grades or classroom performance.
A comprehensive evaluation examines the complete pattern of cognitive, academic, attention, executive-functioning, memory, behavioral and emotional findings. This can provide a more accurate understanding than an IQ score alone.
Gifted children and children with ADHD may share certain characteristics, including:
• Intense curiosity
• High energy
• Rapid thinking
• Boredom with repetitive work
• Difficulty sustaining attention when insufficiently challenged
• Strong focus on preferred interests
• Impulsivity or frequent interruption
• Inconsistent completion of routine work
However, giftedness and ADHD are not the same. A child may be gifted, have ADHD, or have both.
When ADHD is a concern, a comprehensive evaluation can examine attention, executive functioning, behavior, cognitive abilities and academic performance across settings.
A gifted child can also have dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia or another learning disability.
These children may:
• Understand complex ideas but read slowly
• Have advanced verbal reasoning but weak spelling
• Solve difficult problems mentally but struggle to show their work
• Produce sophisticated ideas but have difficulty organizing written responses
• Earn average scores that are substantially below their individual abilities
• Perform inconsistently across subjects or settings
• Become frustrated because their output does not reflect what they understand
Comprehensive testing can help identify advanced abilities while also examining reading, writing, mathematics, cognitive processing and memory.
Some autistic children also demonstrate advanced cognitive abilities, exceptional knowledge or highly developed skills in particular areas.
A comprehensive evaluation may be appropriate when giftedness occurs alongside concerns involving:
• Social communication
• Flexibility and transitions
• Sensory processing
• Restricted or highly focused interests
• Emotional regulation
• Adaptive or daily-living skills
Additional autism and adaptive-behavior measures may be included when those areas are part of the referral question.
Gifted testing may provide information that helps families and schools consider:
• Gifted or advanced academic programming
• Appropriate instructional level and pacing
• Subject acceleration or enrichment
• Areas in which additional challenge may be beneficial
• Cognitive strengths that can support learning
• Accommodations or interventions for twice-exceptional students
• Private-school admission or educational planning when cognitive testing is requested
• Communication among parents, teachers and other providers
Every public, charter and private school establishes its own eligibility, admission and placement requirements. An independent evaluation provides information and recommendations but cannot guarantee gifted-program eligibility, admission, acceleration or a particular educational placement.
Families should ask the receiving school which tests, score requirements and documentation it accepts before scheduling an evaluation for a specific program.
Gifted and twice-exceptional students may require documentation when requesting accommodations for school or standardized examinations.
When clinically supported, a comprehensive evaluation may provide information relevant to requests involving:
• SAT, PSAT and AP examinations administered through College Board
• ACT examinations
• School-based and private-school testing
• Dual-enrollment programs
• College disability services
• Other standardized examinations
Possible accommodations may include extended time, additional breaks, reduced-distraction testing or assistive technology when supported by the findings.
College Board, ACT, schools and other organizations maintain their own documentation and eligibility requirements. The evaluation can support a request, but the receiving organization makes the final decision.
Eligible Florida families may be able to use Step Up For Students scholarship funds for qualifying evaluation services.
This may include:
• Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA)
• Personalized Education Program (PEP)
Funding availability, eligible expenses, documentation requirements and reimbursement decisions are determined by Step Up For Students under current scholarship rules. Families should confirm their individual funding requirements before beginning services.
Free phone consultation
We begin with a brief consultation to discuss your questions and determine whether focused gifted testing or a comprehensive evaluation is most appropriate.
Intake and record review
The psychologist reviews developmental, educational and relevant medical history. School records and previous evaluations are reviewed when available.
Individual testing
Testing is completed one-to-one in a supportive setting. The length and number of appointments depend on the evaluation’s scope and the child’s age and needs.
Feedback meeting
The psychologist explains the results, answers questions and discusses educational recommendations.
Written report
Families receive a report describing cognitive abilities, score patterns, conclusions and individualized recommendations.Appointments are typically available within 1–2 weeks.
Reports are generally completed about one week after testing. Complex evaluations or delays in obtaining records may affect the timeline.
Depending on the evaluation’s scope, families may receive:
• A clear explanation of the child’s cognitive profile
• Overall and domain-specific cognitive scores
• Standard scores, percentile ranks and clinically meaningful interpretation
• Identification of cognitive strengths and relative weaknesses
• Diagnostic conclusions when a comprehensive evaluation supports them
• Individualized educational recommendations
• Recommendations for enrichment, support or additional assessment
• Recommended accommodations when clinically supported
• A feedback meeting with the psychologist
• A written report
Is gifted testing the same as an IQ test?
Gifted testing often includes an individually administered IQ or cognitive assessment. Depending on the referral questions, it may also include academic, attention, executive-functioning, memory or behavioral measures.
Which IQ test do you use?
The WISC-V is our most commonly used cognitive assessment for school-age children. Depending on age and individual needs, we may instead use the WPPSI-IV, WAIS-5, RIAS-2 or KABC-II NU.
How much does gifted testing cost?
Focused gifted and IQ testing is $800 and includes an age-appropriate cognitive assessment, feedback meeting and written report. If there are additional concerns involving academics, ADHD, autism, executive functioning or learning disabilities, a comprehensive evaluation may be recommended.
What age can a child be tested for giftedness?
Testing can be completed with young children, school-age children and adolescents. The appropriate timing depends on the purpose of testing, the child’s development and the requirements of the school or program receiving the results.
Does a high IQ score automatically qualify a child for a gifted program?
No. Schools and programs apply their own eligibility criteria and may consider multiple sources of information. Testing provides objective information but cannot guarantee eligibility or placement.
Can you evaluate giftedness and ADHD together?
Yes. A comprehensive evaluation can assess cognitive abilities, attention, executive functioning, behavior and academic performance to determine whether the child is gifted, has ADHD, or has both.
Can a gifted child also have dyslexia?
Yes. Gifted children can have dyslexia or another learning disability. A comprehensive evaluation can identify advanced abilities and determine whether academic skills are unexpectedly weak relative to the child’s overall profile.
Can you evaluate giftedness and autism together?
Yes. When both areas are part of the referral question, the evaluation can include cognitive testing and appropriate autism, social-communication and adaptive-functioning measures.
Can testing help with private-school planning?
Yes. Cognitive testing can provide useful information about learning strengths and educational needs. Families should confirm the particular school’s testing and documentation requirements before scheduling.
How soon can we schedule?
Appointments are typically available within 1–2 weeks.
How long does the report take?
Reports are generally completed about one week after testing. Timing may vary for complex evaluations or when additional records are needed.
Can Step Up For Students funds be used?
Eligible families may be able to use FES-UA or PEP scholarship funds for qualifying evaluation services, subject to current Step Up For Students requirements and approval processes.
If your child appears highly capable, needs greater academic challenge, or shows advanced abilities alongside attention or learning difficulties, testing can provide a clearer understanding of both strengths and needs.
Bright Future Psychology offers focused gifted and IQ testing as well as comprehensive twice-exceptional evaluations for children and teens in Naples and Southwest Florida.
Bright Future Psychology
5633 Strand Blvd, Suite 311, Naples
Welcome! We offer free 20-min phone consultations. Looking forward to speaking with you to see how we can help.