9 - Assessment of Hearing-Impaired and Deaf Children with the WISC-III

Abstract

This chapter discusses the importance of Wechsler intelligence scale for children-third edition (WISC-III), which is a widely used test of intelligence for hearing-impaired children in North America. The Wechsler scales are a popular device used by clinicians and researchers interested in measuring the intellectual abilities of deaf children. The performance scales are also considered to be one of the best ways to assess intelligence. The chapter addresses both the practitioner and scientific perspectives. The professional literature presents both perspectives while describing the use of the Wechsler scales in deaf populations. Deaf children usually appear to have average intellectual abilities when assessed using language-reduced measures of cognitive ability. The ultimate clinical objective of the Wechsler scales is to differentially diagnose the impact of deafness from that of mental retardation as a cause of poor academic and language performance in deaf children. Adaptive behavior scores in communication, daily living skills, and socialization suggest adequate adaptation to the community environment.