A gifted evaluation measures a child’s advanced abilities through standardized quantitative testing, including IQ measures commonly used to identify giftedness. While scores can help confirm giftedness, they rarely tell the whole story.

That’s why I collaborate with Kari Van Bebber, LMFT, to include qualitative gifted assessment (GQA). This approach looks beyond test data to better understand a child’s strengths, sensitivities, and how their abilities show up in everyday life.

Qualitative gifted assessment is not an achievement test. Instead, Kari spends time getting to know the child through observation and conversation, paying attention to how they think, respond, and move through the world. This process helps illuminate strengths, challenges, and what supports greater ease and well-being in daily life.

When combined with standardized measures, qualitative assessment offers a more complete and ethical understanding of giftedness, particularly when twice exceptionality may be present.

For children who are both gifted and experience challenges such as ADHD, dyslexia, or anxiety, a qualitative lens is especially important. Standardized scores may highlight advanced ability but often miss how those abilities coexist with learning differences or emotional needs.

By integrating quantitative data with qualitative gifted assessment, the evaluation captures both strengths and areas of challenge, helping families better understand how to support their child at home and at school.

Traditional gifted testing often focuses narrowly on IQ or achievement scores. While these measures are useful, they can miss the complexity of gifted development. By pairing quantitative testing with qualitative gifted assessment, this approach offers a more nuanced understanding of how giftedness shows up across learning, temperament, creativity, and daily life.

In collaboration with Kari Van Bebber, who is trained in Linda Silverman’s model, the evaluation moves beyond scores to help families understand both potential and support needs.

Families receive more than a score report. Results are reviewed together in a feedback session, with time to ask questions and talk through recommendations that reflect both quantitative findings and qualitative observations.

For gifted learners, this means understanding how abilities translate into real-world learning and relationships. For twice-exceptional learners, it provides a clearer roadmap that honors strengths while addressing specific challenges. Some families choose to pair a gifted evaluation with follow-up sessions for additional support.

There are several levels of gifted assessment, ranging from foundational to more comprehensive. The best fit is determined during an intake call, where we’ll talk through your child’s profile and your goals. Costs are reviewed after that conversation so families know what to expect before moving forward.