Introduction
The relationship between IQ and age has been a subject of extensive research, with various studies examining how IQ scores change over time and the factors influencing these changes. This synthesis aims to provide a cohesive understanding of the findings from multiple research papers on the topic of IQ percentile charts by age.
Key Insights
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Heritability of IQ Increases with Age:
- The heritability of IQ increases with age, reaching an asymptote of about 0.80 at 18-20 years and continuing at that level into adulthood. Shared environmental influences decrease across age, approximating about 0.10 at 18-20 years and continuing at that level into adulthood.
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Stability and Predictive Value of Early IQ Scores:
- IQ scores in early childhood can predict later IQ scores, but there are variations. For example, nonverbal IQ scores in individuals with autism spectrum disorder showed that most adults who scored in the intellectual disability range also had low scores as children, although actual scores declined from age 2 to 19.
- The Ages and Stages Questionnaire at 36 months can predict IQ at 5-6 years, with a threshold score of 270 being optimal to identify children at risk of an IQ below 85.
- Childhood IQ scores can predict adult educational and occupational status, with predictive correlations approaching those of contemporaneous adult IQs by the second grade.
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Sex Differences in IQ:
- Longitudinal studies show that girls have a slight IQ advantage at ages 7 and 11, but by age 16, boys have a slight IQ advantage.
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Age-Adjusted IQ Norms:
- Age-adjusted IQ scores can be estimated using continuous norming techniques, which provide stable estimates by smoothing age norms analytically rather than developing them on separate age groups.
- Specific age norms for older adults (ages 56 to 97) have been developed, allowing for accurate IQ estimation in this age group.
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IQ Constancy Over Time:
- IQ scores tend to remain relatively stable over time, with no significant changes observed in most between-year comparisons in children aged 5 to 13 years.
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Impact of Education on IQ Scores:
- When educational attainment levels are controlled, the decline in mean Verbal IQ with age disappears, although declines in Performance IQ and Full Scale IQ remain.
Conclusion
The research indicates that IQ scores are influenced by a variety of factors, including age, heritability, early childhood development, and education. While IQ scores tend to be stable over time, they can be influenced by environmental factors and educational attainment. Age-adjusted norms and continuous norming techniques provide more accurate estimates of IQ across different age groups. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for accurately assessing and interpreting IQ scores across the lifespan.