WAIS Applications 3

Question 1

A clinician wants to estimate premorbid intellectual functioning in a patient with traumatic brain injury. Which WAIS-IV subtest score is MOST commonly used as an estimate of pre-injury ability?

Accepted Answer

Vocabulary

Answer

Digit Span

Answer

Matrix Reasoning

Answer

Coding

Question 2

In a WAIS-IV profile, which pattern of scores is MOST consistent with an acquired right hemisphere lesion?

Accepted Answer

Depressed PRI with relatively intact VCI

Answer

Depressed VCI with intact PRI

Answer

Equally depressed VCI and PRI

Answer

Elevated Processing Speed with depressed VCI

Question 3

When interpreting WAIS-IV results for treatment planning in psychotherapy, which index is MOST relevant to a client's ability to follow complex verbal instructions from a therapist?

Accepted Answer

Verbal Comprehension Index

Answer

Processing Speed Index

Answer

Perceptual Reasoning Index

Answer

Working Memory Index

Question 4

A researcher uses WAIS-IV scores to study cognitive aging across a lifespan sample. Which index typically shows the steepest decline with normal aging?

Accepted Answer

Processing Speed Index

Answer

Verbal Comprehension Index

Answer

Working Memory Index

Answer

General Ability Index

Question 5

An examiner administers the WAIS-IV and obtains a valid FSIQ. When writing the psychological report, which statement BEST reflects appropriate score interpretation?

Accepted Answer

The client obtained an FSIQ of 112, which falls in the High Average range (90th percentile) with a 95% confidence interval of 108–116

Answer

The client's IQ is exactly 112

Answer

The client is smarter than 79% of adults

Answer

The FSIQ of 112 means the client can complete most jobs successfully

Question 6

Which WAIS-IV subtest pair forms the basis of the Arithmetic supplemental subtest's clinical value in attention and concentration assessment?

Accepted Answer

It requires mental arithmetic under time pressure, taxing attention and working memory simultaneously

Answer

It measures long-term memory retrieval efficiency

Answer

It primarily measures verbal reasoning and vocabulary

Answer

It assesses visual-spatial planning and sequencing

Question 7

A clinician is assessing a 70-year-old adult with WAIS-IV. Which consideration is MOST important when interpreting the Processing Speed Index for this individual?

Accepted Answer

Motor slowing and visual changes in older adults may contribute to lower PSI scores independent of cognitive decline

Answer

PSI scores are unaffected by age and require no special consideration

Answer

Lower PSI always indicates dementia in adults over 65

Answer

PSI is the most stable index across the lifespan and reflects crystallized intelligence