Children with Fragile X vary greatly in their abilities and degree of difficulties. Normal IQ testing is often inaccurate because these tests are based on the performance of children without disabilities.

David Hessl, from the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute, and a team of researchers have devised a new method of testing. David, who works with children with Fragile X Syndrome, says that the present reports "don’t tell parents anything about their child" He says that if the new method is approved for use:

• "we will be able to tell parents something more useful and more accurately diagnose and treat young children who are learning disabled" and that
• The new test scores " tell us more precisely how a child with fragile x syndrome deviates from the normal population in every sub-test area"

Having a more accurate picture of a child’s capabilities will be useful in determining the most appropriate treatment, therapy and educational strategies. David is hopeful that someday soon he will get permission to use his new scoring method when treating his patients. The methods have potential for use with the testing for those with other intellectual disabilities.

You can read more about the new method at the University of California Newsroom and in a study published online by the Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders

David Hessl is an associate professor of clinical psychiatry and a researcher at the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute. Additional UC Davis researchers include M.I.N.D. Institute medical director Randi Hagerman; M.I.N.D Institute researcher Andrea Schneider; biochemistry and molecular medicine associate researcher Flora Tassone; and Danh Nguyen, associate adjunct professor of public health sciences. Other investigators included Damla Senturk of Pennsylvania State University, and Amy Lightbody, Allan Reiss and Scott Hall, all of Stanford University.