Are standardized I.Q. tests unreliable for younger children (i.e., children under age 5)?
Not necessarily. I.Q. testing in children is discussed in ยง 112.00 D of Appendix 1 to Subpart P of Regulations Part 404. Test results obtained at younger ages (i.e., below age 6) are less reliable and valid than tests obtained at older ages. The tests results should be consistent with the child’s behavior and daily activities as reflected in the evidence of record, including reports of disability interviews or observations or testimony at a hearing. When there are inconsistencies, further documentation of the child’s development and functioning may be needed to resolve these differences. 27. Is there a “tolerance rule” for applying the age categories? No. The age categories are general guidelines, not absolute divisions. They function as descriptive devices and are a convenient way to describe functioning and the kinds of evidence we would expect to need for children of different ages. Because the guidelines regarding what may constitute a disability in the different age categories are
