Psychologists use tests to assess impairments involving the intellect and learning that can impact an individual's academic and occupational functioning. The tests are considered to be scientifically valid for the evaluation of behavior and brain functioning. Test results help individuals with milder impairments learn ways to work around the impairment and obtain accommodations at school or work. The test results also help individuals with more severe impairments obtain disability services.
Intelligence Tests
The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults, or WAIS, assesses verbal and nonverbal abilities, according to "A Compendium of Neuropsychological Tests: Administration, Norms and Commentary" by Dr. Ester Strauss. The test includes vocabulary, problem solving, arithmetic, describing similarities between two concepts, and general knowledge such as literature and geography. Nonverbal abilities include replicating designs with blocks, matching symbols and completing pictures with missing items. There are also Wechsler scales for children: the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, or WISC, and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, or WPPSI. The WAIS is appropriate for individuals who are between 16 and 90 years old; the WISC is for children aged 6 years to 16 years; and the WPPSI is for children aged 2 years and 6 months to 7 years and 3 months.
The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale is another commonly used intelligence test. Abilities evaluated by this test include verbal skills, abstract thinking, mathematical reasoning, short-term memory and visual-spatial processing. The Stanford-Binet is appropriate for individuals aged 2 years and older.
Adaptive Behavior Measures
The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale and the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System are tests that assess a person's typical functioning in everyday activities, or adaptive behavior. Areas of adaptive behavior include self-care, communication skills and socialization. Learning about a person's adaptive behavior helps to obtain a complete picture of what the individual is able to do, according to Dr. Strauss. Adaptive behavior is determined by asking questions about the person's everyday functioning from a parent, caregiver, teacher or other person who is familiar with the individual's day-to-day activities. Results of adaptive behavior tests are usually combined with information about the person's intelligence, physical health and academic achievement to develop academic or occupational accommodations. Deficient adaptive behavior and an IQ score that is significantly below-average are needed for a diagnosis of mental retardation, according to the American Psychiatric Association.
Achievement Tests
The Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, or WIAT, and the Wide Range Achievement Test, or WRAT, are tests that assess a person's ability to read, solve math problems, spell and comprehend sentences, according to Dr. Strauss. These tests are usually combined with results from IQ tests to help psychologists determine learning disabilities. Information from achievement tests can help with appropriate accommodations to help improve people's performance at school. The WIAT is appropriate for individuals 4 to 85 years old, and the WRAT is for 5 to 94 year-olds.
The Woodcock Johnson is another test that evaluates academic achievement. Some of the areas assessed by the Woodcock Johnson include math, reading, spelling and cognitive functioning. The Woodcock Johnson is appropriate for individuals aged 2 years and older.
References
- "A Compendium of Neuropsychological Tests: Administration, Norms and Commentary"; Esther Strauss, Elisabeth Sherman, Otfried Spreen; 2006
- "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed. Text Revision)"; American Psychiatric Association; 2002
- PsychCorp: Adaptive Functioning Assessment System-Second Edition (ABAS-II) Product Summary
