Wechsler Test for Children

The Wechsler Test is the best-known way to detect a person's intelligence. According to David Wechsler (the author of the method) most of the existing IQ tests are not appropriate for adults. This is because the tests mainly focus on a person's reaction speed, and at an older age, passing them may cause certain difficulties. The Wechsler Test for children can indicate exactly where a child falls behind in development. Thus, it becomes possible to identify abnormalities and defects to be corrected.

The Wechsler Scale is a test panel that can be used to determine the characteristics of human intelligence. Initially the test was used mainly in English-speaking countries, but in time the test was translated and adapted for Ukraine.

Indications for Wechsler Test

The Wechsler Test for children helps determine the IQ of children with all-normal processes and children with mental retardation. By combining the Wechsler test with other methods, a specialist can detect neurological and mental illness in the subject.

The main reason a child should pass an intelligence test is because of poor educational achievement.  In addition to determining the level of intellectual development, the Wechsler test is also used for:

• lack of independence;
• jokes misunderstanding;
• inability to learn the rules of behavior;
• constant control requirements.

The Wechsler test is used in autism, cerebral palsy, and other cases to assess a child's intellectual development.

Testing is not done if the child does not speak because the Wechsler test makes no sense in such situation.

Variants of Wechsler Intelligence Test

Wechsler methodology is designed for different age categories, which affects the classification of tasks.

WAIS

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale is administered to find out intelligence quotients in adults. The WAIS-type items are based on well-known techniques used by psychiatrists to clinically examine patients at the age 16 and over.

The WAIS test is usually used when a person's level of mental development needs to be fully assessed. It is most often used when a person is hired for a management position. The WAIS test can be administered to people of all ages. Because of the time involved, the test is rarely used in its entirety.

WISC

The WISC test is used to examine the intelligence of children and adolescents from 6 to 16.

It is the primary method of diagnosing a child's intellectual domain. The WISC test like the adult version is divided into two sections where:

• the first one assesses verbal intelligence;
• the second examines the nonverbal sphere.

During the analysis of the WISC results, a special scale is used to assess knowledge according to the age of the child. According to the results of the study, specialists can:

• measure the general level of intelligence;
• evaluate general erudition and mental abilities;
• determine the type of thinking and memory;
• identify the causes of underachievement in school;
• predict possible difficulties that may arise in the learning process;
• find out if there is mental retardation or developmental delay;
• identify the child's giftedness in order to determine in which highly specialized class he or she will continue his or her education;
• develop a strategy for remedial and developmental activities.

WISC test lasts about 1.5 hour. At the end of the test, the specialist includes the total IQ scores, as well as verbal and nonverbal intelligence scores. The resulting numbers allow the child's IQ to be assessed and further developmental adjustments to be made.

WPPSI

WPPSI scale is designed to test children from 2 years 6 months to 7 years 7 months. The technique is used to find out how ready a child is for school and how developed his or her cognitive abilities are. The questionnaire is also effective in diagnosing young patients with developmental intellectual disabilities because it allows psychological disorders to be corrected in time.

The Aim of the Wechsler Method

The technology of the Wechsler Intelligence Test involves the sequential performance of 11 items, including:

• 6 are of the verbal type, assessed by the examinee's response;
• 5 non-verbal, where the result is the ability to manipulate non-verbal material.

The tasks gradually increase in complexity.

How does testing take place?

At first, the psychologist gets acquainted with the child, interacts with him or her in a relaxed way and assesses his or her level of motivation to perform tasks. In some cases, the child is in no mood to perform tasks, and then it is impossible to make him or her. But an experienced specialist can quite get him or her interested.

In order to do this, the psychologist can complete the first tasks of the Wexler child test together with the child, helping him or her in every way. The child performs the remaining tasks independently.

Upon completion of the test, the specialist summarizes the results, communicates with parents, gives recommendations, and discusses with them the problems detected and ways to overcome them.

The average duration of a Wechsler test is 1.5-2 hours.

The Results of the Wechsler Test

The test consists of 12 subtests, which are divided into verbal and nonverbal scales. The tasks are designed to assess different aspects of a child's intelligence.

The Wechsler test not only determines the level of intellect, but also indicates the least developed areas of intellectual activity. If the person tested scored low on at least one part of the test, it may already indicate mental developmental pathology or a nervous disorder.

When an IQ test is conducted, the child psychologist must take into account many nuances. Sometimes a quiet and calm child may not show a high score right away. Although this is not at all an indicator that the child has developmental delays. Most likely, the reason is that the child's visual thinking is ahead of the verbal. As soon as such a child starts to read, he or she will easily catch up with social skills.

The Wechsler test methodology gives you the opportunity to determine the direction of a child's development and to understand where he or she will develop best.

The Advantages of the Wechsler Test for Children

The Wechsler IQ test gives insight into a child's strengths, weaknesses and abilities and allows you to track his or her developmental progress. Including the intelligence quotient of children with autism spectrum disorders, dyslexia, and speech disorders.

The children's version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale is used in education, psychology, career counseling and other areas. The peculiarity of the children's test is that during the experiment there is an alternation of the verbal and non-verbal parts so that the child can perform tasks as easily as possible.

Advantages of Testing at the Center for Brain Stimulation

The Wexler test can be taken at the Center for Brain Stimulation. Diagnostics is conducted by a certified Psychologist with extensive experience working with children. After the test is recommended a short consultation on its results (30 minutes), during which the psychologist will comment in detail on the results obtained and provide qualified recommendations for the elimination of weaknesses and activation of strengths.

In the Center there is also an opportunity to undergo all the necessary corrective work and developmental classes in case of identification of intellectual deviations and disorders.

Doctors

The Center for Brain Stimulation employs experienced specialists with high qualifications: a child psychologist, a child neurologist, and a child psychiatrist. Therefore, each patient can receive a comprehensive diagnosis and a personal treatment plan tailored to the individual characteristics of his or her particular case. You can make an appointment for a consultation to be tested on the Wechsler scale on our website or by phone.

Contact our manager today in order to take a Wexler test with experienced specialists.