psychological report assignment (wais)

7/27/2019 Psychological Report Assignment (Wais)

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PSYCHOLOGICAL REPORT

CONFIDENTIAL

Client Information

Name: RTDate of Birth: 8 August 1984 C.A.: 29 years 1 month

Gender: Female Race: Chinese

Assessment Information

Evaluation Date: 11 September 2013

Test(s) Conducted: Weshler Adult Intelligence ScaleFourth Edition (WAIS-IV)

Language Used: English

Trainee Psychologist: Samantha Ng

Date of Report: 14 September 2013

This report is written for the purpose of providing information for the understanding of the individualspsychological needs.

It is confidential and information is to be interpreted by a qualified psychologist. Due to developmental changes inindividuals, the results of the assessment are applicable for approximately 24 months.

REASON FOR REFERRAL:

RT was referred to allow this trainee psychologist to practice administering the WAIS-IV.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

RT is a 29 year-old Chinese female. She is of average height with a muscular build. RT is

single and lives with her parents and younger sister in a condominium in Choa Chu Kang.

They speak a mix of English and Mandarin at home, and RTs preferred language is English.

RT works as an insurance underwriter. She studied Business at Nanyang Technological

University and graduated with honours. RT said she enjoyed and had greater aptitude for

math-related subjects in her years of study, and had to work much harder for the language

subjects, particularly Mandarin.

There was no significant medical or developmental history.

BEHAVIORAL OBSERVATIONS:

RT was neatly groomed and was dressed in a blouse and jeans on the day of testing. She was

cheerful and responsive when asked questions. RT showed no problems understanding the

instructions given during the assessment. She was cooperative, maintained good eye contact,

and displayed good attention and concentration throughout the session. She did not request

for breaks and declined taking breaks when offered. Based on these observations, the results

described below are likely to be a good representation of RTs abilities.


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ASSESSMENT RESULTS:

The WAIS-IV is an individually administered intelligence test comprising 10 core subtests

and 5 supplemental subtests. It provides an estimate of global intellectual functioning as well

as estimates of RT's functioning in the areas of verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning,

working memory, and processing speed.

This report is based on the 2008, 4th edition of the WAIS. The analysis of RTs scores is in

relation to individuals within her age group in the U.S, and therefore should be interpreted

with caution as RT has lived in Singapore all her life and her social, educational, and cultural

experiences may differ from that of individuals in the US.

Summary of the WAIS-IV Index Scores

Index Standard

Score

Percentile Rank 95% Confidence

Interval (95% CI)

Classification

Verbal

Comprehension

83 13 78-89 Low Average

Perceptual

Reasoning

125 95 118-130 Superior

Working

Memory

117 87 109-123 High Average

Processing

Speed

124 95 113-130 Superior

Full Scale IQ

(FSIQ)*

112 79 108-116 High Average

General Ability

Iindex (GAI)*

103 58 98-108 Average

* Cannot be meaningfully interpreted

Summary of the WAIS-IV sub-test scores

Subtest Age-Scaled-Score Classification

Verbal Comprehension Index

Similarities 4 Far Below Average

Vocabulary 6 Below Average

Information 11 Average

Perceptual Reasoning Index

Block Design 15 Above Average

Matrix Reasoning 14 Above Average

Visual Puzzles 14 Above Average

Working Memory Index

Digit Span 12 Average

Arithmetic 14 Above Average

Processing Speed Index

Coding 13 Above Average

Symbol Search 16 Superior


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Overall Intellectual Ability

General intellectual functioning is usually best represented by the FSIQ. The FSIQ is derived

from a combined sum of scaled scores from the Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI),

Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI), Working Memory Index (WMI), and Processing Speed

Index (PSI). RT obtained a FSIQ score of 112 on the WAIS-IV. The chances that her truescore is between 108 and 116 are about 95 out of 100. RTs overall performance is classified

in the High Average range and is equal to or higher than that of 79% of individuals her age.

However, this is not a meaningful interpretation as there was significant variability in RTs

scores across the four Indexes.

The GAI provides an alternative measure of general intellectual functioning, which is less

influenced by working memory and processing speed. It is derived from the sum of scaled

scores from the VCI and PRI subtests. RTs derived GAI score was 103, and the chances that

her true score is between 98 and 108 are about 95 out of 100. RTs performance, based on the

GAI, is classified in the Average range and is equal to or higher than that of 58% of

individuals her age. However, this is not a meaningful interpretation as there was a significantdifference between RTs scores on the VCI and PRI.

The difficulties in interpreting RTs FSIQ and GAI score can be attributed to her score on the

VCI, which was significantly lower in relation to her scores on the other indexes. This

suggests that RTs nonverbal reasoning abilities are much better developed than her verbal

abilities, and she may find it more challenging to make sense of complex verbal information

and solve novel problems using words.

RTs intellectual functioning is therefore better understood by her performance on the

separate WAIS-IV Indexes, as described in the following sections.

Verbal Comprehension

The VCI is a measure ofan individuals ability to make sense of he has learnt and to express

himself using words. The VCI comprises the Similarities, Vocabulary and Information core

subtests, and the Comprehension supplemental subtest. Questions from the VCI subtests are

presented verbally and the tested individual is required to respond as such. On the Similarities

subtest, the individual is required to determine how two objects or concepts are alike. On the

Vocabulary subtest, the individual is required to define words that are presented both visually

and orally. On the Information subtest, the individual is required to answer questions thatexamine general knowledge. Lastly, the Comprehension supplemental subtest requires the

individual to express their understanding of general principles and social situations.

The three core VCI subtests were administered. RTs VCI score was 83. The chances that her

true score is between 78 and 89 are about 95 out of 100. RTs performance is equal to or

higher than that of 13% of individuals her age, and falls within the Low Average range. As

RTs performance on the subtests that compose the VCI is quite variable, her VCI score

should be interpreted with caution. In general, RT may display difficulties reasoning when

using language or verbal information.

On the Similarities subtest, RTs performance was Far Below Average, indicating asignificant weakness in comparison with the other subtests of the VCI. Despite having a basic


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understanding of the words, she struggled to categorize the information. This implies that she

may face challenges in linking accurately and forming verbal concepts.

On the Vocabulary subtest, RTs performance was Below Average. She answered tentatively

and was mostly able to capture the meanings of the words from completed items. RT is

possibly not familiar with an extensive range of words, but is adequately able to retrieve andverbalise the meanings of a more limited vocabulary.

On the Information subtest, RTs performance was in the Average range, which was a

significant strength in comparison with the other subtests of the VCI. This implies that RT

may find it easier to recall and articulate information in contexts that are more meaningful to

her.

Perceptual Reasoning

The PRI is a measure of an individuals naturalproblem-solving ability. The PRI comprisesthe Block Design, Matrix Reasoning, and Visual Puzzles core subtests, as well as the Figure

Weights and Picture Completion supplemental subtests. The tasks involved are non-verbal

and the individual tested is required to respond by manipulating objects or pointing to

pictures, rather than responding verbally. On the Block Design subtest, the individual is

required to reconstruct a design with red-and-white coloured blocks while viewing a

constructed picture. On the Matrix Reasoning subtest, the individual chooses a response

option to complete a matrix or series. The Visual Puzzles subtest requires the individual to

select three response options that can be combined to reconstruct a given puzzle. For the

Figure Weights supplemental subtest, the individual is required to choose an option of a

specific weight which would balance a hypothetical scale. The Picture Completion

supplemental subtest requires the individual to identify the missing part of a given picture.

The three core PRI subtests were administered. RTs PRI score was 125. The chances that her


higher than that of 95% of individuals her age, and falls within the Superior range. In

comparison to her performance on the VCI, RTsperformance on the PRI subtests indicates

that she reasons significantly better on visually presented information than on verbal

information.

RTs score for each PRI subtest was Above Average. She was able to complete all the items

in the Block Design subtest quickly and accurately, and mostly worked in a systematicbottom-up manner. She displayed much interest in this subtest, and reported having

enjoyed it. RT was observed to persevere and think through each pattern before responding.

This pattern of response was observed for both the Matrix Reasoning and Visual Puzzles

subtests.

Working Memory

The WMI is a measure of an individuals ability to retain, organise, manipulate and recall

information, and requires attention, concentration, mental control, and reasoning. The WMI

comprises the Digit Span and Arithmetic core subtests, and the Letter-Number Sequencingsupplemental subtest. On the Digit Span subtest, the individual is required to recall a series of


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verbally presented numbers forwards, backwards, and in a sequence. The Arithmetic subtest

requires the individual to mentally solve a series of arithmetic problems. For the Letter-

Number Sequencing supplemental subtest, the individual is required to recall a series of

verbally presented numbers and letters, and present the numbers in ascending order and the

letters in alphabetical order.

The two core WMI subtests were administered. RTs WMI score was 117. The chances that

her true score is between 109 and 123 are about 95 out of 100. RTs performance is equal to

or higher than that of 87% of individuals her age, and falls within the High Average range.

This suggests that RT is able to process complex information quickly and accurately, which

is an advantage in RTs job as an underwriter. Throughout the assessment, RT was also

observed to concentrate well on all the tasks, which is in accordance with what her WMI

score suggests.

Processing Speed

The PSI is a measure of how quickly an individual can think, manipulate, and apply

knowledge that was presented visually. The PSI comprises the Symbol Search and Coding

core subtests, and the Cancellation supplemental subtest. These subtests require short-term

visual memory, attention, and visual-motor (eye-hand) coordination. The Symbol Search

subtest requires the individual to promptly identify the presence or absence of a target symbol

within a group of five symbols. On the coding subtest, the individual is required to write

down corresponding symbols to the numbers 1 to 9 presented in the visual key. For the

Cancellation supplemental subtest, the individual is required to identify and mark specific

shapes within a given variety of shapes.

The two core PSI subtests were administered. RTs PSI score was 124. The chances that her


higher than that of 95% of individuals her age, and falls within the High Average range. This

implies that she has strong processing speed abilities to quickly and correctly scan, sequence,

or discriminate simple visual information. RT was also observed to work quickly on both the

Symbol Search and Coding subtests, of which her responses were error-free. Based on her

score and behavioural observations, it is likely that RT is a fast learner and is able to work

well under time pressure.

SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

RT is a 29-year-old Chinese female who was referred for testing to allow this trainee

psychologist to practice administering the WAIS-IV.

RT presents as an individual with well-developed nonverbal and mathematical skills. She

demonstrated strengths on majority of the subtests, with the exception of those that required

her to respond using words. The results from this assessment recognized her abilities in

reasoning, remembering information, and applying learned concepts quickly and accurately.

In addition, the results from this assessment highlighted RTs difficulties in recognizing

relationships and expressing herself with a wide range of words. This is in line with RTs

observations that she used to find language subjects significantly more challenging.


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Based on RTs assessment results, the following are recommended:

1. Develop working vocabulary by reading more extensively.

2. Encourage writing and communicating using a wider range of words.

3. Continue using RTs strengths to her advantage in the workplace context.

_______________________

Samantha Ng

Trainee Psychologist

psychological report assignment (wais)

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