Gifted testing offers valuable insight into a child’s cognitive strengths, problem-solving skills, and learning style—helping families make informed decisions about school placement, enrichment opportunities, or academic acceleration. Early identification can play a key role in ensuring that gifted learners are both challenged and supported in their educational journey.
Dr. Savana Howe, a licensed clinical psychologist, provides comprehensive and age-appropriate gifted testing for children and adolescents. The tests are AZ state approved. Her testing process is thoughtful, evidence-based, and customized to meet the requirements of both public school districts and private gifted programs. Every assessment is conducted in a respectful, child-centered environment—designed to highlight your child’s unique abilities while meeting educational standards for gifted placement.
Gifted testing is a type of standardized cognitive evaluation used to identify children with advanced intellectual potential. These assessments measure key areas such as verbal reasoning, visual-spatial problem solving, working memory, and processing speed—offering a comprehensive view of a child’s cognitive profile and how they process and apply information.
The results from gifted testing are often used to determine a child’s eligibility for gifted and talented programs, early school admission, or academic acceleration pathways. Dr. Savana Howe uses AZ state approved tests—such as the WISC and WAIS, tailoring the assessment to meet both the child’s developmental stage and the specific standards set by local school districts or private institutions.
Many public and private schools require formal cognitive testing as part of the application process for gifted education. A professional evaluation helps determine whether your child meets eligibility criteria for advanced or accelerated instruction.
Some families pursue gifted testing to support early school enrollment or grade-skipping requests. Results can demonstrate readiness for academic challenges beyond the child’s current placement.
Gifted children often have unique learning styles. Testing results help families and educators better understand how a child processes information, so instruction can be adjusted to match their pace and strengths.
For many parents, gifted testing offers validation, reassurance, and direction. Knowing your child’s strengths early can reduce school-related stress and support long-term educational planning.
An accurate cognitive profile can guide decisions around academic enrichment, extracurricular activities, or specialized instruction that nurtures a child’s intellectual growth.
Dr. Howe’s gifted testing process is designed to be clear, supportive, and tailored to each child’s developmental level and school placement goals. Every step is conducted in a calm, child-friendly environment, using nationally recognized tools that provide reliable, objective results.
Dr. Howe meets with parents to gather information about the child’s educational background, observed strengths, and goals for testing. This step helps ensure the assessment is aligned with both the child’s needs and the specific program criteria.
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Standardized tests, such as the WISC or WAIS, are administered one-on-one in a quiet, supportive setting.
Testing sessions typically last between 1.5 to 2.5 hours, depending on the child’s age and pace.
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Test responses are scored and interpreted. Arizona school districts typically use these scores to determine eligibility for gifted programs.
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A comprehensive report is prepared that outlines scores, interpretations, and program eligibility notes. Dr. Howe reviews the findings in a follow-up meeting and provides tailored recommendations for next steps.
Dr. Savana Howe is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in psychological testing and evaluation. She offers in-depth assessments for a wide range of needs, including ADHD, Autism, learning challenges, giftedness, cognitive functioning, court-ordered evaluations, and fitness-for-duty exams.
Her reports are known for being clear, thorough, and practical—helping clients, families, and professionals better understand their situation. Whether it’s for diagnosis, school or job accommodations, or legal questions, Dr. Howe tailors every evaluation to the person and situation. She has experience working in courts, aviation, healthcare settings, and schools, and always brings cultural awareness and clinical care to the process.
Alongside testing, Dr. Howe also provides therapy for people dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, or life changes. Her approach is warm and collaborative, focused on helping people feel heard, understood, and supported.
Dr. Howe provides both IQ testing and achievement testing using Arizona state-approved assessments to support accurate and comprehensive gifted identification.
IQ tests measure a child’s intellectual potential across areas like reasoning, memory, and problem-solving. Dr. Howe uses assessments such as the WISC-V for children and the WAIS-IV for older teens, both of which are recognized by Arizona schools for gifted program qualification. These tests help determine whether a child meets the cognitive thresholds required for gifted placement.
Achievement testing evaluates what a child has already learned in subjects like math, reading, and writing. It’s especially useful when paired with IQ testing to create a full academic profile. This helps identify students who may be both high-achieving and cognitively gifted, or those whose potential exceeds current academic performance.
Contact Dr. Howe today to schedule your free 15-minute consultation and begin your journey toward better mental health.
Giftedness refers to exceptional intellectual ability or academic performance that significantly exceeds age-level expectations. It often includes strengths in areas like reasoning, problem-solving, memory, creativity, or verbal skills. Gifted students may grasp complex ideas quickly, show intense curiosity, or require more advanced learning opportunities than their peers. Identifying giftedness helps ensure that these students receive the support and academic challenge they need to thrive.
Gifted testing provides objective data about a child’s cognitive strengths and academic potential. School districts often use formal test results to determine eligibility for gifted programs, accelerated learning tracks, or enrichment services. In addition to school placement, testing can also clarify whether a student’s learning needs are being met and guide individualized strategies to support growth. For many families, gifted testing offers valuable insight into how their child learns and what environments will help them succeed.
Gifted testing can benefit children who show signs of advanced learning, heightened curiosity, or frustration with the pace of standard classroom instruction. Testing helps determine whether a child qualifies for gifted programs and can uncover areas of strength that may not be obvious in everyday academics. For some students, it also helps identify discrepancies between potential and performance—such as in twice-exceptional learners who may be gifted and have a learning difference. Dr. Howe’s evaluations provide detailed feedback that families and educators can use to better support the child’s development.
Most children are tested between ages 6 and 9, when cognitive development is stable enough to yield accurate results and schools are more likely to accept testing for program placement. However, testing can be done as early as age 5 in some cases, and older children can still benefit from assessment—especially if they’ve recently shown signs of advanced learning or are applying to gifted programs in middle or high school. Dr. Howe selects age-appropriate, state-approved assessments to ensure reliable and meaningful results.
Testing typically takes between 2 to 4 hours, depending on the type of assessments used and the child’s age. IQ testing alone may be completed in about two hours, while a full battery that includes achievement testing may take longer. Dr. Howe offers breaks as needed to keep children comfortable and focused. After testing, results are scored and interpreted, followed by a comprehensive feedback session to discuss the findings and next steps.
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