Lecture on IQ Assessment: Recent Gazette Notification 2024

Introduction

• Presenter: Dr. Sur Badmat, Professor of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore.
• Topic: Discussion on the recent Gazette notification (12th March 2024) regarding IQ assessment.

Key Details of the Gazette Notification

• Issued By: Government of India.
• Purpose: Provides guidelines for the assessment of disability.
• Specific Focus: Developmental disorders, including intellectual disability (ID).
• Subcommittee: Led by Dr. Shifali Gulati, Child Neurologist, AIMES New Delhi.

Tools for IQ Assessment

• Mentioned on pages 522-523 of the notification.
• Tools Listed:
  • Vsms (Vineland Social Maturity Scale): Copyrighted.
  • Malin Intelligence Scale for Indian Children: Copyrighted.
  • Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Edition 4: Copyrighted.
  • Binet-Kamat Test (BKT): Copyrighted.
  • NIPD IQ Test: Freely available.

Assessment for Different Conditions

• Specific Learning Disability (SLD):
  • Tools: NAN's Index for SLD (Copyrighted), GLAD (Freely available, limited to 4th standard).
• Autism:
  • Tools: Inclan Diagnostic Tool for ASD, Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (Freely available).
• Mental Illness: Discussed but not detailed.

Intellectual Disability

• Definition: Significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior, onset during developmental period.
• Age Specification:
  • 5 years and above: Termed as Intellectual Disability.
  • Below 5 years: Termed as Global Developmental Delay.

Screening Process

• Initial Screening: Conducted in schools or hospitals.
• Referral: To pediatricians for further assessment of comorbidities (visual, locomotive, hearing difficulties).
• Screening Tools:
  • Ages 1-5: Use VSMS for profiling.
  • Ages 5 and above: Use VSMS, BKT, or Malin Intelligence Scale.

Certification and Reassessment

• Temporary Certificate: Issued for Global Developmental Delay (valid till age 5).
• Reassessment and Certification:
  • More than 80% disability: Valid for lifetime if assessed at 18+ years.
  • Less than 80% disability: Reassessment at ages 5, 10, and 18 years.

Disability Calculation

• Based on VSMS Score:
  • 0-20: Profound, 100% disability.
  • 21-35: Severe, 90% disability.
  • 36-54: Moderate, 75% disability.
  • 55-69: Mild, 50% disability.
  • 70-84: Borderline, 25% disability (No benefits as minimum 40% required).

Assessment Authorities

• Four Key Personnel:
  • Chairperson (government official).
  • Pediatrician/Pediatric Neurologist.
  • Psychiatrist/Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.
  • Clinical/Rehab Psychologist.

Critique of the Notification

• Progressive: Allows onboarding of private professionals (except chairperson).
• Challenges:
  • Availability of specialists in government sectors, especially in remote areas.
  • Requirement of multiple assessments for those with less than 80% disability.
  • State responsibility to purchase copyrighted tools and train personnel.
• Resource Allocation: Committee did not consider practical availability of resources.

Conclusion

• Notification aims to streamline assessment but involves significant administrative and logistical challenges.
• Emphasizes state responsibility for procurement and training.
• Highlights the need for streamlined processes and realistic resource planning.

This lecture provides insight into the complexities of implementing the guidelines and the ground realities faced by professionals and families seeking assessments. Additional focus is needed on resource allocation and the accessibility of tools and specialists.