Research article summary (published 20 Jul 2009):

Cognitive discrepancies in children at the ends of the bell curve: a note of caution for clinical interpretation.

Full Abstract

Discrepancies between IQ scores on the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) and scores from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) were examined at different levels of intellectual functioning in 470 normal-functioning youths (aged 8-19) from the co-standardization sample of the WASI and D-KEFS. Results demonstrated that children with lower IQ scores often had significantly higher D-KEFS scores, whereas children with higher IQ scores often had significantly lower D-KEFS scores. Similar patterns were identified for discrepancies between Verbal and Performance IQ indices. These findings are similar to those found in the adult literature. Clinicians are advised to be cautious when weighing the clinical significance of cognitive discrepancies at the ends of the bell-curve and should avoid interpreting discrepancies in isolation.

Author information

Author/s: McGee, Christie L (CL); Delis, Dean C (DC); Holdnack, James A (JA);

Affiliation: San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, California, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: The Clinical neuropsychologist (Clin Neuropsychol), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 23 (issue 7) : pp 1160-72

Dates: Created 2009/09/29; Completed 2009/10/26;

PMID: 19629853, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/26/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent Adolescent Development - physiology Child Child Development - physiology Cognition - physiology Female Humans

Intelligence Tests Male Neuropsychological Tests Patient Selection Problem Solving - physiology Verbal Behavior - physiology Young Adult

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