Deviation scores: An innovative approach to interpreting cognitive test results for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Devadrita Talapatra, Laurel Snider, Jeanine Coleman and 4 others
PMID 37553958WHAT IT FOUND
Deviation scores reveal hidden cognitive strengths in students with intellectual disabilities whose standard IQ tests show flat, low profiles.
This allows teams to tailor instruction to visual or verbal preferences, moving beyond deficit-based planning to leverage individual abilities for better educational outcomes.
Key findings
01Standard IQ tests often produce flat, low profiles for students with intellectual disabilities due to floor effects, masking true relative strengths and weaknesses.
02Deviation scores can reveal meaningful differences in cognitive profiles among students with identical standard scores, identifying specific strengths in verbal or nonverbal domains.
03Identifying these relative strengths allows educators and clinicians to tailor instruction, such as using visual supports for students with strong spatial skills and weak auditory memory.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The paper relies on only four case examples, which cannot establish the method's general effectiveness or reliability. Deviation scores are currently only readily available for the SB5, limiting their use with other common cognitive tests. The authors acknowledge that calculating deviation scores by hand is cumbersome, though an automated online system exists for the SB5. There is disagreement in the field regarding the utility of analysing relative strengths versus normative scores for eligibility decisions.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume deviation scores are universally applicable or that they replace standard scores for eligibility. They primarily add value when standard scores are floored, and currently, only the SB5 offers readily accessible deviation scores. Over-emphasising these cognitive profiles can also deprioritise critical adaptive behaviour skills.