Wechsler Scores Research Articles

Beyond the heart: Cognitive and verbal outcomes in Arab children with congenital heart diseases.

This study investigates how congenital heart diseases (CHD) characteristics and interventions affect cognitive and verbal skills in Arab children, while also uncovering previously unexplored connections between these skills and the quality of life (QoL) scores as perceived by both children and parents. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jordan, involving 62 children with CHD aged 6-16. Data were collected through standardized intelligence tests (namely The Raven's Progressive Matrices Test and The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) and QoL assessments. Sex, disease severity, cyanosis, CHD defect status, conducted operations, and types of interventions did not significantly influence cognitive scores. However, a significant difference was observed in Wechsler's scores between cyanotic and non-cyanotic children (p < .01) and between severe and moderate cases (p = .01). Further, a significant positive correlation was identified between Wechsler's Scores and QoL reported by parents (r = 0.33, p < .01). This correlation was particularly pronounced in the social and school functioning dimensions of QoL. This study highlights the need for personalized care approaches for children with CHDs based on their individual characteristics. While cognitive abilities did not directly correlate with children's QoL reports, a significant positive correlation between verbal skills and QoL reported by parents underscores the importance of effective communication in assessing a child's overall well-being. Future research should further examine the cognitive development in this population, employing neurocognitive investigations and longitudinal studies to gain a deeper understanding of their cognitive profiles and trajectories.

Concurrent validity of intelligence assessments in children with developmental disabilities in an Asian setting: Comparison of the Kaufman brief intelligence test – Second edition with the Wechsler Intelligence Scales

BackgroundThis study was carried out to compare the concurrent validity of the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test – Second Edition (KBIT-2) with that of two Wechsler Intelligence Scales (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fifth Edition (WISC-V) and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence – Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV)) in an Asian setting. MethodsA retrospective study reviewed the medical records of 101 children with developmental disorders who were being followed up at a tertiary child development unit. Pearson product moment correlation coefficients were calculated between the KBIT-2 and Wechsler assessment scores. Simple regression analysis was used to calculate standard errors of estimation to assess the accuracy of predicting Wechsler scores using KBIT-2 scores. ResultsA strong positive correlation was observed between KBIT-2's Intelligence Quotient (IQ) Composite and WISC-V's Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ) scores (r = 0.722, p < 0.01). KBIT-2 IQ composite scores showed a moderately strong positive correlation with WPPSI-IV FSIQ scores (r = 0.648, p < 0.01). Simple regression analysis showed that KBIT-2 scores tended to underestimate or overestimate the Wechsler scores, with the highest variability seen in KBIT-2's Non-Verbal IQ and Wechsler's Fluid Reasoning Index scores (error limits: -53.1 to 39.7). ConclusionOur study demonstrates that KBIT-2 has good concurrent validity when compared to other IQ tests such as the Wechsler scales, and it suggests that KBIT-2 is a good screening tool for assessing intelligence in a group of children with developmental disabilities. Further studies are needed to determine whether KBIT-2 can be used for the purpose of diagnostic decision-making or special education program placement.

The Two Sides of Cognitive Masking: A Three-Level Bayesian Meta-Analysis on Twice-Exceptionality

We compared the Wechsler scores of individuals with twice-exceptionality (2e) and giftedness using a three-level Bayesian meta-analysis. Ninety-five effect sizes were calculated from 15 studies ( n = 2,106). Results show that individuals with 2e who have learning disabilities perform lower than individuals with giftedness in Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ; g = −0.62), working memory ( g = −0.79), and processing speed ( g = −0.75). Individuals with 2e who have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder have a distinct profile in which only processing speed differs from individuals with giftedness ( g = −0.55). Results suggest that using a single Intelligence Quotient (IQ) score in the identification process will be misleading. Moreover, IQ may mask the strengths or weaknesses of individuals with 2e.

Gaining from discretization of continuous data: The correspondence analysis biplot approach.

According to Stevens's classification of measurement, continuous data can be either ratio or interval scale data. The relationship between two continuous variables is assumed to be linear and is estimated with the Pearson correlation coefficient, which assumes normality between the variables. If researchers use conventional statistics (t test or analysis of variance) or factor analysis of correlation matrices to study gender or race differences, the data are assumed to be continuous and normally distributed. If continuous data are discretized, they become ordinal; thus, discretization is widely considered to be a downgrading of measurement. However, discretization is advantageous for data analysis, because it provides interactive relationships between the discretized variables and naturally measured categorical variables such as gender and race. Such interactive relationship information between categories is not available with the ratio or interval scale of measurement, but it is useful to researchers in some applications. In the present study, Wechsler intelligence and memory scores were discretized, and the interactive relationships were examined among the discretized Wechsler scores (by gender and race). Unlike in previous studies, we estimated category associations and used correlations to enhance their interpretation, and our results showed distinct gender and racial/ethnic group differences in the correlational patterns.

Cognitive dysfunction and the progression of neurodegenerative process in patients with multiple sclerosis

Neurodegeneration (ND) is the basis of the gradual increase in neurological deficit and cognitive impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Morphometry of the brain is the method for monitoring of ND. The possibility of using neuropsychological tests for this purpose is being actively discussed. To examine the effect of treatment with interferon beta-1b (IFNb-1b) on the development of the neurodegenerative process according to morphometry and cognitive testing. Twenty-three patients with relapsing-remitting MS were examined. The control group included 10 healthy people. All patients received IFNb-1b in a dose of 9.6 million IU. EDSS, MSFC, depression and anxiety Beck test, Wechsler test, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, voxel morphometry with FreeSurfer 5.3 were used. The EDSS score was 4.0 before treatment. In MS patients, MSFC and Wechsler scores were worse in comparison with similar indicators of the control group. Deterioration of neurological status, motor function test and PASAT during exacerbation was identified in 7 patients. Morphometry revealed the increase in hypointense white matter lesions (HWML) (p<0.05) in patients with MS. There was a downward trend in the cortical and subcortical gray matter volume and the increase in ventricular volume. A direct correlation between the amount of HWML and the degree of disability on EDSS scale (p=0.018), the inverse correlation between HWML and Wechsler test, PASAT (p<0.05) were identified. After a year of therapy, there were no statistically significant changes in motor and cognitive functions and no signs of 'pseudoatrophy'. Morphometric data in MS were changed compared to healthy controls. There were correlations between morphometry results, disability and cognitive dysfunction. After a year of IFNb-1b therapy, there were no significant changes in cognitive function and EDSS.

PT-06 * RANDOMIZED TRIAL OF HIGH-PRECISION CONFORMAL RADIATION THERAPY COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL RADIOTHERAPY IN PRESERVATION OF LONG-TERM NEURO-COGNITIVE OUTCOMES IN YOUNG PATIENTS WITH PROGRESSIVE OR RESIDUAL BENIGN/LOW-GRADE BRAIN TUMORS

BACKGROUND: To report neuro-psychological outcomes in young patients with progressive benign and low-grade brain tumors treated with high-precision stereotactic conformal radiotherapy (SCRT) versus conventional radiotherapy (Conv RT) ({type:clinical-trial,attrs:{text:NCT00517959,term_id:NCT00517959}}NCT00517959). METHODS: Between 2001-10, 200 patients (median age 13 years, commonest histology craniopraryngioma) were randomized to SCRT (n = 105; 6MV, non-coplanar fields using micromultileaf collimators) or Conv RT (n = 95; 6MV, 2-4 open fields) to 54 Gy/30 fractions. Neuropsychological battery included full-scale IQ (FSIQ), verbal quotient (VQ), performance quotient (PQ), memory quotient (MQ in patients > 16 years) by Wechsler scores, LOTCA battery and state-trait Anxiety Inventory and Hamilton Anxiety-Depression Scales. Serial evaluations were performed at baseline (pre-RT), 6-months and 2, 3, 4, and 5-years post-RT and analyzed using generalized linear-mixed model (GLMM). RESULTS: Pre- RT baseline revealed considerable proportion of patients with low intelligence in both arms indicating effects of tumor and prior treatments. GLMM for repeated measures demonstrated significantly better preservation of FSIQ over time in SCRT versus Conv RT arm at 3 years (p = 0.0003) and 5 years (p = 0.012). There was significantly better preservation of VQ (age 16 years) (p = 0.049) in SCRT than Conv RT arm. Anxiety scores between two arms was not significant at 5 years but mean depression scores at 5 years in age group <16 years was found significantly higher in Conv RT arm (p = 0.01). Patients in Conv RT also had significantly more neurocognitive decline in LOTCA battery at 5 years (p = 0.019), particularly in visuomotor organization and attention-concentration domains. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate high-precision conformal radiotherapy superior to conventional radiotherapy in preservation of neuropsychological functions in young patients with benign/low grade brain tumors. This is among few trials generating evidence for use of modern conformal RT from an appropriately-powered trial with clinically relevant endpoints and act as suitable benchmark for testing newer RT- technologies.

Evaluation of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Specific Learning Disability on the WISC and Cognitive Assessment System (CAS)

The diagnoses of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) are often based on IQ-connected instruments. The preponderance of data supports the opinion that this kind of tests shouldn’t be relied upon for ruling in or out the diagnosis of ADHD and SLD. The Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, Successive Theory is an alternative to traditional IQ. The purpose of this study is to examine differences in cognitive performance between samples of ADHD and SLD children. The results suggest that Wechsler scores show minimal difference but CAS scores appear sensitive to the cognitive processing difficulties experienced by children.

The Flynn Effect and Its Critics: Rusty Linchpins and “Lookin’ for g and Gf in Some of the Wrong Places”

The consensus of most intelligence scholars is that the Flynn effect (FE) is real, IQ test batteries are now routinely restandardized on a regular basis. A cornerstone in Flynn’s explanation of the FE is his analysis of select Wechsler subtest scores across time. The featured articles by Kaufman and Zhou, Zhu, and Weiss question whether Flynn’s arguments are grounded in the unproven assumption that similarly named Wechsler scores measure the same constructs across editions. Kaufman raises the issue by means of a detailed task analysis of changes in test administration and scoring directions for similarly named tests across different Wechsler editions. The author applauds Zhou et al. for bringing methodological rigor to the comparison of similarly named Wechsler Performance composite scores across time. Unfortunately, both Kaufman and Zhou et al. inadvertently perpetuate some of Flynn’s incorrect interpretations of select Wechsler measures (Similarities and Performance tests) as measures of the novel abstract problem solving that characterizes fluid intelligence (Gf). The author presents empirical Wechsler subtest g-loadings based on seven Wechsler joint- or cross-battery factor analyses (with other cognitive batteries). The results suggest that the extant Wechsler FE data and its system of interpretations, hypotheses, and resultant theory are held together by multiple anchors, a number that, in the words of Kaufman, are “seriously coated in rust.” The author briefly discusses the theory, tools, and technologies that currently exist to place a more reasonable degree of order in the house built by Flynn.

Adult Age Differences in Inhibitory Processes and their Predictive Validity for Fluid Intelligence

ABSTRACT According to the inhibition-deficit hypothesis age differences in working memory capacity and fluid intelligence have been attributed to a decline in inhibitory efficiency. Conceptualizing inhibition as multifaceted, 88 participants (49 younger and 39 elderly) completed two versions of the negative priming paradigm (identification and localization), and two variants of the directed forgetting paradigm (listwise and itemwise). Two tasks of the Wechsler Intelligence Test with high loadings on general fluid intelligence (Gf) served as validation criteria. Results revealed task-specific and speed-independent inhibitory deficits in the elderly (lower negative priming in both paradigms; more intrusions in the directed forgetting tasks), as well as higher levels of repetition priming. Significant correlations between measures of inhibition and the Wechsler scores were found in both age groups. Results support the view of multiple inhibitory-like capabilities that play a central role in the decline of higher-order cognitive functions in old age.

Improving Sensitivity of the Recognition Task in the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale

This paper presents an alternative measure for scoring the recognition memory task in the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS), which is one of the most common screening tests. Memory studies routinely take into account not only correct responses to old items (Hits) but also incorrect responses to new items (False Alarms). Here, a bias-corrected measure of recognition memory, Hits minus False Alarms (called Pr), is computed and its significance evaluated against the original measure, Hits. 28 male and 40 female healthy elderly people (M age= 68.5 yr., SD=3.5) recruited from the neighborhood community participated in this study. Multiple stepwise regression analyses first with Hit Rate then False Alarm Rate showed that False Alarm Rate significantly improved R(2) in the two subscale scores of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised and scores of the Mini-Mental State Exam. Thus, this new measure taking into account false responses may be more sensitive and useful to detect early stages of cognitive dysfunction.

Effect of Turner's syndrome and X-linked imprinting on cognitive status: analysis based on pedigree data

The effects of a monosomy of either the maternally or paternally derived X chromosome in Turner's syndrome (TS) on general neurocognitive status and some executive abilities were assessed using the maximum likelihood estimators for pedigree data. This method increases the power of analysis by accounting for the effect of background heritable variation on a trait. The sample comprised 42 females with regular non-mosaic X monosomy and their non-affected relatives. Wechsler neurocognitive scores and several executive function tests' scores, including the Behaviour Dyscontrol Scale (BDS-2), the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), and the Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT), were considered in the analysis. Results showed a significant effect of TS on all Wechsler index and subtest scores, with greatest deficits observed in Arithmetic, Block Design, Object Assembly and Picture Arrangement, and on the total BDS, RCFT and WCST scores, regardless of parental origin of the single X-chromosome. Our data also showed a significantly higher effect of a paternally derived X chromosome in diminishing the performance on several Wechsler scores relevant to verbal skills, which might suggest X-linked imprinting loci relevant to these skills. Possible reasons for the inconsistency of the results concerning X-linked imprinting of cognitive loci using TS patients are discussed, and the relevance of pedigree analysis to future studies of this problem is emphasized.

Performance of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Anxiety/Depression on the WISC-III and Cognitive Assessment System (CAS)

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in cognitive performance between samples of children diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety and/or depression, and the normative groups on two tests of ability. Matched samples of 25 children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder were contrasted with 25 children diagnosed with anxiety/depression. Both groups were also compared to the normative values for the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third Edition (WISC-III) and tests of Planning, Attention, Simultaneous, and Successive cognitive processes from the Cognitive Assessment System (CAS). Children with ADHD had lower Planning scores than those with anxiety/depression (6.5 points; effect size of 0.6) and lower Planning scores than the standardization sample (12.7 points; effect size of 0.9). No significant difference was found between children with ADHD, children with anxiety and depression, and the matched clinical sample on the WISC-III. The findings are commensurate with other studies, suggesting that Wechsler scores differentiated the samples minimally but CAS scores appear sensitive to the cognitive processing difficulties experienced by children with ADHD.

Diagnosing written language disabilities using the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Educational Achievement-Revised and the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test.

The writing portions of the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Educational Achievement-Revised and the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test are often administered when establishing eligibility for special education services due to learning disabilities. The scores on these measures are typically regarded as equivalent although little is known about how scores on the two measures differ for the same students. Differences of only a few points, however, may affect eligibility for special education services. These tests were administered to 25 sixth grade students previously diagnosed with learning disabilities in written expression only. Students' Wechsler scores were consistently higher on the overall writing composite, while there was no difference in the mean scores on the language mechanics subtests. The WIAT Written Expression subtest mean, however, was significantly higher than the Woodcock-Johnson Writing Samples subtest mean. Use of the Wechsler test would be less likely to identify children for special education services in written expression when point discrepancy criteria are utilized for eligibility. Clinicians should be cognizant of the effect of the specific test chosen on eligibility outcome.

Measurable biological substrates to verbal-performance differences in Wechsler scores.

Measurable biological substrates to verbal-performance differences in Wechsler scores.

Institutional Care and Developmental Outcomes of 6- and 7-year-old Children: A Contextualist Perspective

This paper examines effects of institutional settings on cognitive, affective, and personal development of children. Two samples consisting of 52 children, living in orphanages, and 45 kindergarten students, living with their families, were selected in Moscow, Russia; children’s ages were between 70 and 88 months. The children in both samples were compared with respect to their Wechsler scores, empathy, and level of conformity. It was found that the kindergarten children had higher Wechsler scores, a higher level of empathy, and a lower level of conformity. It was also found that the age of placement in an institution and the amount of time the child spent there were associated with Wechsler IQ score and studied measures of affective and personal development. The proposed interpretation of the detrimental institutional effects suggests that the institutions differ from the family in both the organisation of their context and in the roles of their participants. Institutional organisation is considered as a set of factors affecting the behaviours of the participants (both the children and the staff), and the process of the children’s development.

Long-term follow up of patients with classical phenylketonuria after diet relaxation at 5 years of age. The Paris Study.

The age for discontinuing dietary treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU) has been a worldwide source of controversy for many years. It is the reason we report here the results of a prospective, controlled study in which the diet was relaxed at 5 years of age in 31 so far well-treated children with classical PKU. The increase of phenylalanine (Phe) plasma levels to about 1500 mumol/l (25 mg/dl) after relaxing the diet was not associated with any significant decline of intellectual performance as measured by the Wechsler scores. Paired comparisons at 7-8 years and 11-13 years of age (n = 12) have shown WISC scores of 102.6 +/- 16.2 and 104.8 +/- 16, respectively, which were not significantly different. Similarly, paired comparisons at 9-10 years and 14-16 years (n = 6) did not demonstrate a significant loss of IQ points (107.7 +/- 13 vs 104.8 +/- 18). Of course, it is possible to argue that we should have observed an increase in IQ with increasing age in our patients and that the absence of deterioration cannot be considered by itself as a good result. Nevertheless, it cannot be excluded that the subtle but global intellectual impairments that have been documented in early-treated subjects are, to a very substantial degree, determined in the pre-school years, long before there is any question of stopping or relaxing the diet.

A comparative study of ERP correlates of psychometric and Piagetian intelligence measures in normal and hyperactive children

Verbal and performance scores of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R 1981) and of a Piagetian battery, the Cognitive Development Scale for Children (EDC 1984), were obtained on 30 normal control and 19 hyperactive 6–8-year-old children. Amplitudes and latencies of a fronto-central P250 and of the parieto-occipital N250, P350 and P500 were measured concurrently in 4 categorization tasks derived from tests of the WISC-R and EDC batteries. Spearman correlations were computed between the intelligence and the ERP factor scores. Results showed that age-related and age-corrected Wechsler's scores were correlated with similar ERP changes (reduced amplitude, decreased latency). With regard to the amplitude changes, each type of intelligence was associated with a specific ERP pattern. The verbal scores were correlated with the P350 and the P500 amplitudes, and the performance scores with the frontal P250 and occipital N250 amplitudes. By contrast, Piagetian development and intelligence scores yielded ERP correlates in the opposite direction: P500 amplitude was negatively correlated with raw EDC scores, but positively with scaled EDC scores. In addition, Piagetian intelligence was not related to the general peak latency decrease with age. In hyperactive children, additional negative correlations were found between P250 amplitude and the subjects' verbal test scores. Correlations with some performance tests that were negative in normal controls, were positive in hyperactive children. In addition, latency-based correlations found in normal controls were lacking in hyperactive children. These findings provide strong evidence that intelligence comprises different components related to different subsets of cognitive processes, as indexed by different ERP waves. They also suggest that the development and intelligence do not always rely on the same changes, and that intelligence forms may not be referred to the same use of the same processes in hyperactive and normal children.

Comparison of Error Rates and Performance on Wechsler's Coding and Digit Symbol Subtests and the Symbol-Symbol Test for Children and Adults

Performance on Digit Symbol, Coding, and similar symbol-substitution tests are known to be influenced by a wide variety of reversible and nonreversible organic syndromes and learning disabilities. Recently, questions regarding the interchangeability of different symbol-substitution tests have been raised. The present study compared the performance, i.e., number of substitutions completed accurately and number of errors, of 37 adults, 32 adolescents, and 45 children on the Wechsler symbol-substitution tests of Digit Symbol and Coding with their performance on the recently designed Symbol-Symbol test. Analysis indicated that, while Symbol-Symbol performance is highly correlated with Wechsler scores on symbol-substitution tests, significant differences in error rates and speed of performance suggest that the Symbol-Symbol test cannot be considered an equivalent symbol-substitution test. Further investigation of the properties and the potential uses of the Symbol-Symbol test with clinical populations must be undertaken.

A 3-Year Comparison Study of WISC-R and WISC-III Iq Scores for a Sample of Special Education Students

The purpose of this study was to compare the Wechsler scores for the same group of students after a 3-year interval. A sample of 84 regular and special education students were tested first on the WISC-R and then 3 years later on the WISC-III. Scores were broken up into five score subgroups from lowest to highest. More WISC-III scores appeared in lower IQ ranges, whereas fewer WISC-III scores appeared in higher IQ ranges. It was surmised that the WISC-III was more difficult at the higher IQ ranges and less difficult at the lower IQ ranges. WISC-III Performance scores displayed more (lower) differences between administrations, whereas the Verbal scores, which were higher, showed more variability. Researchers concluded that practicing psychologists might be more inclined to place students in classes for the educable mentally retarded (EMR) based on the effects of lower Performance Scale scores than on Full Scale IQs.

Relationships between Scores of Gifted Children on Stanford-Binet IV and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised

Thirty-nine children enrolled in the gifted curriculum in the public schools in a midwest community of 27,000 were tested with the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale: Fourth Edition. Correlations were then calculated between the scores of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised, obtained from the students' files, and the scores of the Stanford-Binet. Only the correlation between the Stanford-Binet Verbal Reasoning standard age scores and the Wechsler Verbal IQs was statistically significant (p &amp;lt; .01). The Stanford-Binet Short-Term Memory standard age score mean was between 12 and 24 points lower than the means of the other Stanford-Binet and Wechsler scores.