Wechsler Intelligence Tests – Can They Be Trusted Fully?

When David Wechsler first released his tests to measure human intelligence, they were embraced by the scientific community because the concept behind these tests was that intelligence was comprised of various skills all of which were measurable. People all over the world share certain traits and intelligence can be assessed keeping in mind local circumstances as well as the personality of the subject.

Wechsler tests are used in a variety of situations. They are used to measure the intelligence of children, both to determine whether children are gifted or are developmentally disabled. In both situations, appropriate educational programs can be devised so that the child can derive the maximum benefit from it. These tests are also used as a diagnostic tool in order to determine the exact nature of brain damage.

Wechsler tests are not without their fair share of controversy. They are not capable of giving very accurate results in extreme cases, such as when the child has a very high or a very low score. These tests falter when the IQ of the child is higher than 140 or lower than 30. Parents of children with these extreme scores might need to have the tests done again, preferably by a more competent person. These tests have to be administered by highly trained individuals who have a very high level of comfort with dealing with children of diverse personalities.

Since Wechsler tests are very useful in diagnosing learning disabilities such as attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder, they are getting a lot of attention these days. However, since they depend on the competence of the person administering the test, parents might need to have their child tested more than once in order to get a more accurate diagnosis of their child’s condition. When done correctly, Wechsler tests are an invaluable tool for helping a child.