Performance iq of 79... Am I screwed?

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So my verbal iq is 124 (above average) but my performance iq is 79 which is quite below average. I am worried my low performance iq sill make living a independent life very hard, am I right or no?

I don't think you're screwed, necessarily, but you may need assistance in certain areas. I see a lot of autistic people writing about how they did really well on one part of the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale, and really badly on another part. A lot of autistics have good to strong skills in some areas, and deficits to the point of disability in others. Processing Speed is frequently a big problem (mine was only in the 14th percentile, really low). That means only 14% of people who took the test did worse than me (not sure what that is in IQ scale, but it's Low Average). I also did so-so in Working Memory (30th percentile, Average). This made sense--I don't work quickly and my memory is cr#p, and I also did poorly on the parts of the test that had the psychologist giving me spoken instructions or spoken math problems. My comprehension of the spoken word is poor.

On the other hand, I was in the 86th percentile for Verbal Comprehension (High Average) and 95th percentile in Perceptual Reasoning (Superior) because I do very well with written material and visual reasoning.

The whole thing averaged out to a total IQ score of 108. So what does this mean? I have gravitated into a field of work where I can use my strengths (commercial art and website design), but there are things that I really struggle with, most especially things like being on time, disorganization, and juggling multiple responsibilities. You may do well in your line of work, but need help with certain things, perhaps through workplace accommodations and life hacks like reminders, lists, and calendars. I use my iPhone and Microsoft Outlook to set reminders, make lists, memos, Google Maps to keep me from getting lost, and music to keep me calm on my commute and to help me concentrate at work.

Hi, i too have low I.Qs..

My Verbal I.Q was in the low average
My Working Memory was pretty low
and my Information Processing Speed was EXTREMELY low
all this things cause short term memory loss
However my Visual and Spatial I.Q was perfect, which explains the drawing affinity.

I have a lot of issues mostly at school.

My executive Functioning impairment make things at home harder like cooking.

You see i forget how to do things that require more than three steps and if i do remember the steps i forget what sequence they go in.

Making Kraft Dinner i mastered but still forget the sequences a lot. Like i may fill the pot up with water and put it on the stove but forget to turn it on, or put the water on but never fill up the pot, or put the cheese in the pot first and completely forget the noodles. so sequences are still a struggle.

With minimal support i can be pretty independent though.

I would say it depends on what IQ test you had taken, what mental/physical state you were in, whether you were distracted or having trouble concentrating during the test, and whether or not motor skills problems adversely affected your score.

It also depends on what all the performance IQ comprises on the test you took. My IQ was in the superior range for everything except for processing speed, which was only slightly above average. This indicates that my processing speed on that day was awful compared to the other areas tested. I don't know the reason for it.

But 79 is still a normal IQ score, and it's not your full-scale IQ, anyway. I would not think that it means that you will have difficulties living independently.

When I took the weshler IQ test in my 20's I scored 89 but the test administrator told me if the ignored my low scores & only graded the test where I did well I would have scored 140. From this you can get an idea how poorly I did on my not so good tests but also how strong I did in the others as well. This is a common scenario for autistics. My processing speed is very low as is my working memory but mechanical comprehension is through the roof so to speak.

You will notice that half the savants in this world are autistic. It is largely due to the natural imbalance of intellect in autistics combined with strong focus on narrow topics & at least for the savants anyway strong memory but usually only for their given interest area.

Sounds about like my scores except writing instead of verbal. Where are you at right now? Have you experimented with trying to get a job and stuff like that?

He's only 15, not 25.

I had a similar distribution of scores when I was 15. I am married and have had a job for 36 years.

Yes, independence is a possibility.

I have no idea how well my other scores are but my verbal IQ has always been lower and my performance IQ has always been average (106-107) while my verbal IQ has been from 55 to 91 while my performance IQ has stayed about the same and my overall IQ has been from the mildly ret*d range to a 99. One of my IQ scores was a 117 but I am not sure which part that was. But my scores have always been all over so it was proof I am not slow or ret*d. I could be very well in the above average range but I don't feel that smart.

My performance IQ is 146 and I'm very dependant. I could eat and get dressed by myself and do simple tasks around the house, but getting a job and performing in a stressful environment is far more than I can handle. Generally dealing with people irl is impossible for me.

So honestly I think you just need to see for yourself what you'll have to do later on. You know best what you're capable of, so believe in what you certainly can do and consider the things that may be difficult. You shouldn't have to do it by yourself either if you're diagnosed with ASD, there's nothing wrong with getting help.

Remember, the whole point of IQ tests is to see where you have strengths and weaknesses, and if there are any areas that you may need accommodation or assistance. This is very helpful especially when the person tested is a child or preparing to go to university, so they can get extra tutoring in weak areas, accommodations like a note-taker or extra time to take quizzes and tests, and assisted living situations, if needed. It can also hint at co-morbid conditions, like ADHD, that might be helped by medication. I'm going on Ritalin this week at the age of 50 because I am just a disorganized, unmotivated mess when it comes to concentrating on work or doing chores.

There are differing levels of independence, too, which can still lead to a good quality of life. Think about areas that you don't feel strong in, and think about ways that these might be improved or helped:
- High school or university - do you need someone to take notes for you because the teacher talks too fast? A laptop so you can type your notes? Extra time to take tests? An academic tutor? Social skills tutor?
- Work - part-time or full-time? Asking for accommodations?
- Living space - with parents? A roommate? Group home? Assisted living? By yourself?
- Executive functioning - will you need help with paying bills? A cleaning service? Software to remind you of tasks? A calendar or notes on a whiteboard? A food allowance? A life skills class (how to balance a checkbook, do your taxes)?
- Stress/emotions management - would therapy help? Relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga? An exercise routine? Medication for anxiety or depression?

My IQ tests at 87, Raven's Progressive Matrices/non-language...on a verbal test I scored lower. The test administrator told my mom "She's not that smart."
I don't test well.

What IQ test is this?

I'm not sure that performance IQ is a good proxy measure for being able to live independently. Before you found out your IQ score, did you feel that there were things you couldn't do that would prevent that?

Among autistic people, IQ score isn't as good a predictor of independent living skills as it is for non-autistic people. There are people with above-average IQ who are unable to live independently, and some with mild cognitive disability who live independently.

One measure of independent living skills often used by psychologists is the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS), which is normed just like IQ. Basically it asks the person or a caregiver to rate a number of daily living tasks as 'does independently', 'does with help' or 'can't do at all'. It's a far better predictor of independent living than IQ is, and also marks out skills you can work on.