In a society that often adheres to conventional expectations, children with high intelligent quotient (IQ) that is well beyond their years tend to stand out as remarkable anomalies.
While their intellectual prowess is a source of awe, it can also be met with a mix of curiosity, admiration, and sometimes even skepticism.
Such is the case for Adhara Pérez, an 11-year old Mexican girl who is said to have higher IQ — at 162 — than Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking both at 160 in estimate.
What does this mean for children like Adhara?
A Briefer on IQ
The concept behind IQ testing is to provide a numerical representation of a person’s cognitive abilities and intellectual potential.
An average IQ score is set at 100, with scores above 100 indicating above-average intelligence and scores below 100 suggesting below-average intelligence. Adhara’s IQ score of 162 places her significantly above the average, underscoring her exceptional cognitive abilities.
But while IQ tests are widely used and respected tools for assessing a person’s intelligence, it’s crucial to recognize their limitations.
IQ scores, for one, can be influenced by various factors including nutrition, certain medical conditions, cultural bias, environmental factors (i.e. access to education and stimulating experiences), and quality of education. This is why one can easily reason out how from the get-go, already no two people are in equal standing — thus the results being unreliable when used without certain reservations.
Added to these are concerns on the IQ tests themselves, with their accuracy and relevance on the line in consideration of the following factors:
- Incomplete Assessment: Critics claim that IQ tests alone may not capture the full spectrum of human intelligence, therefore being unable to provide a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s abilities, skills, or potential.
- Narrow Focus: They also argue that IQ tests often focus on just analytical or logical reasoning, while neglecting other forms of intelligence such as emotional intelligence or creativity, which are just as important in the society.
- Static Measurement: Contrary to what the IQ tests suggest, some experts exclaim that intelligence is more dynamic, constantly influenced by the day-to-day experiences throughout a person’s life. Which is why it is unproductive to view IQ scores as static, unchanging representations of intelligence.
Adhara’s IQ score is a testament to her remarkable intellectual abilities, yes, but the aforementioned issues outline how essential it is to consider the broader context and factors that influence IQ scores when interpreting them.
This ongoing debate surrounding IQ tests underscores the complexity of measuring and understanding human intelligence, highlighting the need for a holistic approach in assessing individual potential.
The Journey of Adhara Pérez
When she was just three years old, Adhara was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome — or high-functioning autism.
Whereby individuals in this mild level of autism disorder spectrum (ADS) have average to higher-than-average language and intelligence levels, they tend to struggle with socialization.
Because of the latter, Adhara had been at the receiving end of bullying from her peers, resulting in her being demotivated to go to school.
“I saw that Adhara was playing in a little house and they locked her up, and they started to chant ‘oddball’, ‘weirdo’,” Adhara’s mother, Nallely Sanchez, narrrated. “They [also] started hitting the little house. So I said, I don’t want her to suffer.”
Despite their family’s economic standing, Nallely Sanchez was determined to help her daughter shine and reach her maximum potential. And so she took Adhara to a therapist, who helped them figure out the most effective learning environment for her.
From then, Adhara thrived more than ever. She actually graduated from high school at the shy age of eight.
Two Degrees As a Pre-Teen
To date, Adhara hasn’t even reached her teenage years yet she is already preoccupied with two online degrees: systems engineering and industrial engineering with a focus on mathematics.
She is also immersing herself in courses on astronomy and gravitational waves, fueled by her dreams of becoming an astronaut, exploring the cosmos, and contributing to the groundbreaking work of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Her journey towards this goal has been bolstered by an offer from the University of Arizona, where she’s preparing diligently for her entrance exam while continuing to explore the fascinating world of astrophysics.
A Bracelet for Emotional Monitoring?
Adhara has also started making waves beyond the sphere of academics.
Particularly, it was when she took on the groundbreaking project of creating a bracelet designed to monitor the emotions of children with special needs, inspired by her own experiences as a child.
At a very young age, Adhara endured an intense seizure that nearly induced a coma. During this challenging period, the importance of emotional support and timely intervention was further underlined.
Safe to say that it was a pivotal moment which ignited her desire to create a solution beneficial for children facing similar challenges. This was the same time she had been part of the Forbes México’s 100 Most Powerful Women (2019), a feat that is even more notable considering her young age.
How the Bracelet Works
Her innvoation is essentially a fusion of compassion and technology, designed to monitor and assess the emotional states of children with special needs in real-time.
It relies on advanced sensors and algorithms to detect changes in heart rate, skin conductance, and other physiological markers that are indicative of emotional distress or heightened agitation.
One of the primary goals of the emotion-monitoring bracelet is to anticipate and prevent critical episodes, such as seizures, by recognizing early signs of emotional distress. By continuously monitoring a child’s emotional state, the device can provide caregivers and parents with timely alerts, enabling them to intervene proactively and provide the necessary support or medical assistance for a safer, more nurturing environment for the children.
Without a doubt, Adhara’s creation is not just a technological marvel; it’s also a tool that empowers caregivers and families.
Beyond Seizure Prevention
While the primary focus of Adhara’s project is on the anticipation and prevention of seizures, the potential applications of such technology extend far beyond this.
Emotion-monitoring bracelets have the potential to benefit children with a wide range of special needs, including those with autism spectrum disorder, anxiety disorders, and other conditions that rely heavily on emotional regulation.
This tangible result of Adhara’s exceptional intelligence and commitment to improving the lives of others also certainly makes for an inspiration among all individuals who believe in the power of technology to make a positive impact on the society — be they yonguns or adults.
Gifted Kids Are Still That — Kids
While talks of the IQ test scores has been on a divide, Adhara’s trajectory at present is proving to be of one fueled by instrinsic greatness, strength, and dedication to the work at hand, and which can only go up and up from here.
Even so, it is imperative to not put so much pressure on kids like Adhara and instead allow them to go at their own pace, and grow around the strengths and weaknesses they were gifted with as they walk through life.
If you want to read more about Adhara, check out her memoir that she penned herself: “Do Not Give Up.”
Here, she shared her experiences growing up and at the same time touching upon the theme of overcoming life’s obstacles.