Wechsler Test Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV) Clinical Applications 5

Question 1

A referral asks whether a patient's cognitive profile is consistent with an attention disorder. The WAIS-IV alone can best contribute by:

Accepted Answer

Showing relative weaknesses in Working Memory or Processing Speed as supporting data

Answer

Providing a definitive ADHD diagnosis

Answer

Ruling out all other conditions

Answer

Replacing behavioral rating scales

Question 2

Which practice best supports the validity of WAIS-IV results across repeated assessments?

Accepted Answer

Accounting for practice effects and using appropriate retest intervals

Answer

Ignoring practice effects

Answer

Always retesting within one week

Answer

Changing subtests each time freely

Question 3

A patient's performance is strong on all subtests except Comprehension, which is notably low. Comprehension weakness may reflect difficulty with:

Accepted Answer

Practical reasoning and understanding of social conventions

Answer

Basic vocabulary only

Answer

Visual-spatial construction

Answer

Processing speed

Question 4

When a WAIS-IV score conflicts sharply with a patient's known real-world functioning, the clinician should first:

Accepted Answer

Consider validity factors such as effort, mood, and testing conditions

Answer

Assume the real-world observation is wrong

Answer

Report only the test score

Answer

Discard functional information

Question 5

Which combination of subtests forms the core Verbal Comprehension Index?

Accepted Answer

Similarities, Vocabulary, Information

Answer

Block Design, Matrix Reasoning, Visual Puzzles

Answer

Digit Span, Arithmetic, Coding

Answer

Symbol Search, Coding, Cancellation

Question 6

In a forensic evaluation, embedded and standalone validity checks are used alongside WAIS-IV to:

Accepted Answer

Assess whether the performance reflects genuine effort

Answer

Increase the Full Scale IQ

Answer

Shorten administration

Answer

Replace the index scores

Question 7

A clinician interpreting an elderly patient's below-average Processing Speed Index should remember that:

Accepted Answer

Processing speed typically declines with age and norms are age-adjusted

Answer

Processing speed is unaffected by normal aging

Answer

Low PSI always indicates dementia

Answer

PSI cannot be measured in older adults