Review Article Topical Review of the WISC-R for Pediatric Neuroclinicians

Abstract-This article will familiarize neuroclinicians with the WISC-R and with the results of countless research studies on this popular test of the intelligence of children and adolescents. In addition to a description of the WISC-R and its subtests, and a discussion of the WISC-R from a historical context, the article reviews research in the following areas: (1) relationship of the WISC-R to Wechsler’s preschool and adult scales; (2) interpretation of verbal-performance IQ differences; (3) clinical implications of scatter; (4) relationship of an IQ score to present and future functioning; and (5) comparison of IQs on the WISC-R with scores on other tests for children and adolescents. (J Child Neurol 1986;1:89-98.) The use of intelligence test results for diagnosticand prescriptive purposes has become an in-creasingly important aspect of the evaluation process for school-aged children. It is important to note that such test results should be used in the context of an assessment process that involves multiple measures and with primary focus on the child.1 One of the most widely used intelligence tests is the Wechsler Intelli-gence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R).2 2 Th