Normative Data for Selected Subtests of the WAIS-R in a Spanish-Speaking Adult Population Living in the U.S. – Mexico Border Region

Abstract

Abstract Objective Adaptations of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Revised (WAIS-R) and accompanying norms exist for a limited number of Spanish-speaking populations, but none are available for US-dwelling Spanish speakers of Mexican origin, who make up the largest proportion of Latinas/os in the US. As part of a larger test adaptation and norming effort for Spanish-speakers from the US-Mexico border region, we generated and investigated demographically adjusted interpretive norms for selected WAIS-R subtests. Participants and Method Participants included 183 community-dwelling, primarily Spanish-speaking individuals, aged 20 to 55 (education range: 0-20 years; 58% female), who were residing in the US-Mexico border region. Participants completed the WAIS-R Spanish version (Block Design, Arithmetic, and Vocabulary subtests) as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. Demographically adjusted T-scores were calculated for these subtests using fractional polynomial equations, which controlled for age, education, and sex. We examined rates of neurocognitive impairment (T < 40) in our sample derived from the present demographically adjusted Spanish speaking norms and from the existing WAIS-R demographically adjusted norms for English-speaking Non-Latina/o White and Black adults. Results Based on the normalized distribution of T-scores, the newly developed regional Spanish-speaker norms yielded subtest rates of impaired performance between 13-16% (i.e., within the expected -1 SD). By comparison, the proportion of impaired subtest performances was between 4-6% when applying the existing English-speaking norms to our sample. Conclusions Regional normative data will improve interpretation of test performance on selected WAIS-R subtests for Spanish-speakers living in the US and will facilitate a more valid analysis of neuropsychological profile patterns in this population. Cross-validation with Spanish-speakers in other regions and/or with other national origins is needed.