INTELLECTUAL AND NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

ASSESSMENT

Tests described in this chapter are related to cognitive functioning in some way.

Intelligence tests

measure intellectual abilities.

Achievement tests

measure accomplishments in academic areas.

Neuropsychological tests

focus on cognitive dysfunction, often from brain injury or illness.

MENTAL STATUS EXAM

Can be divided into the following major categories:

● General Appearance
● Emotions
● Thoughts
● Cognition
● Judgement and Insight

INTELLIGENCE TESTING

— attempt to measure your intelligence that is, your basic ability to understand the world around you, assimilate its functioning, and apply this knowledge to enhance the quality of your life.

— psychological tests that are designed to measure a variety of mental functions, such as reasoning, comprehension, and judgment.

Charles Spearman

✓ Father of Factor Analysis

✓ Posited the existence of a g factor (general intelligence) and s factor (specific intelligence)

Louis Thrustone

Intelligence is plural abilities that may not relate to each other.

✓ Suggested 7 clusters of Primary Mental Abilities

- numerical ability, word fluency, verbal meaning, perceptual speed, reasoning, and memory.

James Cattell

made the two separate intelligences.

Fluid intelligence

Ability to reason when faced with novel problems.

Crystallized intelligence

Body of knowledge accumulated through life experiences.

John Carroll

Three-stratum theory of Cognitive Abilities

WECHSLER INTELLIGENCE TESTS

Originally created by David Wechsler in the early 1900s.

WECHSLER ADULT INTELLIGENCE SCALE-FOURTH EDITION (WAIS-IV)

● Age 16-89

● was developed to assess cognitive ability for adults.

● aids in examining the relationship between intellectual, functional and memory.

● A common purpose for the WAISA is for educational planning and placement with older adolescents and adults.

● The tests includes 11 subtests with various types of format

● Approximately 60-90 minutes is required for completion.