WAIS-IV, Wms-IV, and Acs: Advanced Clinical Interpretation (Practical Resources for the Mental Health Professional)

The most recent editions of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and the Wechsler Memory Scale published in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Near the end of 2009, a new product called The Advanced Clinical Solutions for Use with the WAIS-IV/WMS-IV (ACS) published. The new product expands the construct coverage of the WAIS-IV/WMS-IV and provides additional procedures that improve the clinical utility of those instruments. This book provides WAIS-IV users with information on applying the WAIS-IV including additional indexes and information regarding the use in special populations for advanced clinical use and interpretation. The book offers sophisticated users of the WAIS-IV and WMS-IV guidelines on how to enhance the clinical applicability of these tests. The first section of the book provides an overview of the WAIS-IV, WMS-IV, and new Advanced Clinical Solutions for the WAIS-IV/WMS-IV. In this section, the examiner will understand:

• when variability in WAIS-IV and WMS-IV scores is considered normal versus atypical
• how many low scores are typical for healthy adults versus clinical populations
• how to determine if an examinee performance represents a decline in functioning from a previous level
• how to assess if results are due to suboptimal effort

This topic is discussed in the context of using Demographically Adjusted Normative data, estimating Pre-morbid Intelligence and using Reliable Change Scores and contrast scores. Finally, the new social cognition measures found in the ACS are presented. The second part of the book focuses on applying the topics in the first section to specific clinical conditions. This will include recommended protocols for specific clientele (e.g. using demographically adjusted norms when evaluated individuals with brain injury). Common clinical conditions will be discussed including Alzheimer’s disease, mild cognitive impairment, traumatic brain injury, temporal lobe epilepsy, attention deficit disorder, autism, Asperger’s syndrome, reading and math disorder, schizophrenia and other psychiatric conditions. Each chapter will provide case examples applying all three test batteries and using report examples as they are obtained from the scoring assistant. Finally, the use of the WAIS-IV/WMS-IV and the ACS in forensic settings is presented. The editors and chapter authors will have exclusive access to proprietary WAIS-IV/WMS-IV/ACS data (n > 3,000) to run advanced analyses and provide additional information beyond what is offered in the manual

• Coverage of administration and scoring of WAIS-IV, WMS-IV and ACS
• Information contained on use of WAIS-IV with special populations
• Case studies in each chapter
• Written by the creators of WAIS-IV, WMS-IV and ACS

Lawrence G. Weiss, PhD is Vice President of Test Development for Pearson Clinical Assessment. He oversees a department of 150 professionals and is responsible for all research and test development activities related to the company’s psychological, educational, speech, language, and occupational therapy assessment products as well as post college admissions tests. He also advises on test development activities for the company’s international business partners around the globe including Pearson Clinical Assessment offices in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, The Netherlands, India, China, Spain, and Brazil.

Dr. Weiss has presented widely on intelligence in more than a dozen countries. He has authored or co-authored the following 7 graduate level text books:

• WISC-III Cross Cultural Analyses: Culture and Children’s Intelligence (2003)

• WISC-IV Clinical Use and Interpretation (2005)

• WISC-IV Advanced Clinical Interpretation (2006)

• WISC-IV Clinical Use and Intervention (2008)

• WAIS-IV Clinical Use and Interpretation (2010)

• BAYLEY-III Clinical Use and Interpretation (2010)

• Advanced Clinical Assessment with WAIS-IV and WMS-IV (2013)

Some of his books have been translated into Spanish, Japanese, and Korean. In addition, he has authored or coauthored approximately 30 journal articles, 12 technical reports, and 10 other book chapters.

Dr. Weiss holds a PhD degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Texas A&M University, and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Trinity University. He lives in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife of 28 years, Judy Ann. The Weiss’ have two adult sons.