Help with Essay - Are you REALLY good at something?

[Froggy901]

Hi everyone!

Firstly, a quick intro - my name's Vikki and I'm an aspiring psychologist. I recently did a short training course to help me towards my career, and for this I have to write an essay based partly on the results of a Wechsler Adult Intellectual Scale (WAIS-IV) assessment I did with an epileptic girl. If you're not familiar with this test, it's like an IQ test and your score can be divided down in to different domains to show your specific strengths and weaknesses as well as your overall ability. This girl obtained a fairly average score, but her Processing Speed scores were just phenomenal. Our facilitator commented that this is not an unusual finding in people with epilepsy - because they can sometimes suffer in one domain because of the condition (this girl was not so great on verbal comprehension), some epileptics 'compensate' by being really good at other things. I suppose it's a bit like a blind person being much better at identifying sounds than the normal population (to use an extreme analogy!).

The problem is, now that I'm writing this essay (and we were specifically asked to talk about this phenomenon), I cannot find a single article or journal that talks about this! I'm reluctant to ask our facilitator without first exploring every angle, so that's where you guys hopefully come in...

Firstly (probably a long shot), do any of you know of any research regarding this?

And secondly, I was wondering if any of you have noticed this within yourselves, or loved ones with epilepsy? Are you particularly good with certain tasks (like memory, numbers, where's wally/waldo, whatever (!), even though you can struggle with others? Have any of you actually had a WAIS assessment and don't mind sharing some of the results (however vaguely you want to dress them)?

Anyway, I really hope a few of you could spare a moment t reply to this, it would really help me out! Thank you!

 

[girlwithadog]

Just wondering if your studies would be aimed at those who were born with epilepsy or those who got it from a head injury? Would that make a difference?

 

[Cint]

The problem is, now that I'm writing this essay (and we were specifically asked to talk about this phenomenon), I cannot find a single article or journal that talks about this! I'm reluctant to ask our facilitator without first exploring every angle, so that's where you guys hopefully come in...

Firstly (probably a long shot), do any of you know of any research regarding this?

And secondly, I was wondering if any of you have noticed this within yourselves, or loved ones with epilepsy? Are you particularly good with certain tasks (like memory, numbers, where's wally/waldo, whatever (!), even though you can struggle with others? Have any of you actually had a WAIS assessment and don't mind sharing some of the results (however vaguely you want to dress them)?

Anyway, I really hope a few of you could spare a moment t reply to this, it would really help me out! Thank you!

Hi Vikki,

Congrats on your aspirations to become a psychologist. I hope you go into neuropsychology, as we could certainly use a few more of those!

I've had my share of psyche tests because of my seizures and brain surgery, but because of it all, my memory stinks! Plus I have aphasia, like stroke victims, I cannot think of words often times while I'm speaking with someone. But some of that is due to the meds, too. Many of the AED's can cause memory/depression problems.

Here is a link on the WAIS test:

http://professionals.epilepsy.com/page/progress_measure.html

 

[PFunk]

Is this test also used to form a cognitive baseline for someone? Whatever test I took, I kicked ass on the visual portion, verbal... not so much. I'm sure I could dig it out if it would help.

 

[Froggy901]

Just wondering if your studies would be aimed at those who were born with epilepsy or those who got it from a head injury? Would that make a difference?

The girl in question became epileptic as a result of a head injury, but my facilitator wasn't too specific when he was talking about these (elusive!) findings, so I suppose it doesn't matter. I'm just asking really for annecdotal evidence - if I get a dozen or so replies from people saying they do have a specific talent, then perhaps I am just not looking in the right places! But if no one really has noticed they are amazingly better at something than anyone else, then perhaps my facilitator was confused, or was thikning of just one anomalous study and I'd feel better about having to ask him for more details. Does that make sense?

And Cint - thank you for the link, I'm trying to get access to one of the articles mentioned in case it can shed some light!

 

[Froggy901]

Is this test also used to form a cognitive baseline for someone? Whatever test I took, I kicked ass on the visual portion, verbal... not so much. I'm sure I could dig it out if it would help.

Yes it is Although there are a few others that can be used, so it might be something different. It's probably not necessary to dig it out (but thank you for the offer), but do you remember what the tasks were in the visual portion?

 

[PFunk]

Draw an imagine given to me (it was bunch of geometric forms). Then I had to draw it again 20 min later and then again an 1hr later.

Put blocks together (red and white on different sides) to form whatever image was being shown.

Watch the order blocks were touched and then copy it.

Showed me a drawing of an object “broken into pieces”. I had to guess what the object was.

There were more that I can’t remember.

 

[qtowngirl]

i sucked at the shapes/drawing part of the test, but recall of words etc. i did good at.
that's where i excel in daily life - memory and especially focus/attn to detail. prob why i was hired for data entry and archiving - i love that stuff.

i agree with cint froggy, we need more neuropsychologists big time (come to canada!), but if i can be honest pls don't use the reference epileptics. the girl you're talking about is a girl/person with epilepsy. if you're studying in this field that's a good thing to know

 

[Froggy901]

i agree with cint froggy, we need more neuropsychologists big time (come to canada!), but if i can be honest pls don't use the reference epileptics. the girl you're talking about is a girl/person with epilepsy. if you're studying in this field that's a good thing to know

Sorry! There's only so many times you can type person with epilpsy in one afternoon before going barmy, but point taken, and thank you for letting me know I'll have to stop being a lazy typist!

Unfortunately, the UK can't afford any more psychologists (regardless of need), and I need to qualify as a psychologist before I get to specialise in neuropsych *sigh* It's a long road, so I am ever more thankful for everyone's help!

P-Funk - that must have been a different one to mine, but I certainly recognise the sorts of task (the Block Design' is a subtest in the WAIS) Thanks

 

[PFunk]

Froggy, sorry I couldnt have been more help, but good luck!

Q, if we put our minds together we would have one kickass brain.

 

[qtowngirl]

you mean with my focus and your... creativity?

 

[PFunk]

Yah I was going with your analytical/language and my spatial powers combined… I could draw something bad ass and then you can add all the flowery language that the art community gobbles up. We’ll make millions and then buy that island we’ve been eyeing. We’ll have to save some room for Crash.

 

[qtowngirl]

the island!!! yes!!! and we gotta grab cbird on the way (btw where the hell has she been?), and 2ndchances too! and neil and pita...

but no, i'm not the flowery type, my lingo is mostly business or health based.
so, draw the bad ass, and i'll SELL it!! make it something health-related and i'll sell it to hospitals and doctor's offices and such. talk about millions!!

 

[PFunk]

Since I'm an architect, I'll design the hospital and you sell it. Deal?

 

[qtowngirl]

ooooh this is getting good. architect ey, seems to me i should know that but didn't.
lol we're not really helping vikki anymore here are we. unless we get her a kickass job at the hospital before selling it, and only on the premise that she makes like 100 bucks an hr

 

[PFunk]

Aside from showing we both chose professions that highlight our strengths, then no, we are not. Sorry Vikki, Q tends to derail me.

 

[Cint]

but if i can be honest pls don't use the reference epileptics. the girl you're talking about is a girl/person with epilepsy. if you're studying in this field that's a good thing to know

And I agree with qtowngirl, please don't use the word "epileptics". We are people who have a seizure disorder or epilepsy. That word immediately gives others a negative connotation of people with epilepsy, thinking there is only one type of seizures, where folks shake uncontrollably and turn into a devil. :evil2:

 

[qtowngirl]

Q, if we put our minds together we would have one kickass brain.

onder:

 

[PFunk]

Q, is that good or bad pondering

please don't use the word "epileptics". We are people who have a seizure disorder or epilepsy.

There is no need to make that point again. She already acknowledge that she didn’t know and it was a mistake. Plus, contextually it is not meant to be malicious. I can see her point, it is harder to continually type “people with epilepsy” vs "epileptics"...

 

[Froggy901]

There is no need to make that point again. She already acknowledge that she didn’t know and it was a mistake. Plus, contextually it is not meant to be malicious. I can see her point, it is harder to continually type “people with epilepsy” vs "epileptics"...

Thanks

And I'm looking forward to this hospital