Wechsler Memory Scale | Fourth Edition

WMS-IV
  • David Wechsler, PhD
Wechsler Memory Scale® Fourth Edition (WMS®-IV) is the most widely used scale of adult memory. In response to changing demographics, increased caseload, and new research and clinical needs, this latest edition of the memory test includes four new subtests and modifications to three existing subtests. Eight subtests have also been eliminated. Guidance on using this test in your telepractice.

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  • Kits

    Starter & complete kits, print & digital

    4 options

    From USD 292.10
  • Test forms reports

    Booklets, record forms, answer sheets, report usages & subscriptions

    10 options

    From USD 2.76
  • Support materials

    Manuals, stimulus books, replacement items & other materials

    28 options

    From USD 4.49
  • All products

    All tests and materials offered for WMS-IV

    42 options

    From USD 2.76
- of 58 results
  • WMS-IV Administration and Scoring Manual (Print)
    0158895819 Qualification Level C

    USD 287.62

    Estimated to ship:4 weeks
  • WMS-IV ADULT AGE 16-69 REC FM
    0154895857 Qualification Level C

    WMS-IV ADULT AGE 16-69 RECORD FORM

    USD 4.83

  • WMS-IV Complete Kit (Print)
    0158895800 Qualification Level C

    Includes Administration and Scoring Manual (Print), Technical Manual (Print), Stimulus Book #1 (Print), Stimulus Book #2 (Print), 25 Adult Record Forms (Print), 25 Older Adult Record Forms (Print), 25 Response Booklets (Print), Design and Spatial Addition Card Set (Print), Scoring Template and Memory Grid (Print)

    USD 1,253.73

    Estimated to ship:1-2 weeks
  • WMS-IV Adult Ages 16-69 Record Forms Qty 25 (Print)
    0158895851 Qualification Level C

    USD 146.40

    Estimated to ship:4 weeks
  • WMS-IV Design Card Set A Qty 8 (Print)
    0158895967 Qualification Level C

    USD 17.71

    Estimated to ship:4 weeks
  • WMS-IV Complete Card Set (Print)
    0158895932 Qualification Level C

    Includes 8 Design Cards Set A, 12 Design Cards Set B, 12 Design Cards Set C, 16 Design Cards Set D, 2 Design Cards Teaching Examples, and 16 Spatial Addition cards

    USD 125.47

  • WMS-IV Design Card Set B Qty 12 (Print)
    0158895975 Qualification Level C

    USD 24.61

    Estimated to ship:4 weeks
  • WMS-IV Complete Kit with Softcase (Print)
    0158896009 Qualification Level C

    Includes Administration and Scoring Manual (Print), Technical Manual (Print), Stimulus Book #1 (Print), Stimulus Book #2 (Print), 25 Adult Record Forms (Print), 25 Older Adult Record Forms (Print), 25 Response Booklets (Print), Design and Spatial Addition Card Set (Print), Scoring Template and Memory Grid (Print) in Softcase

    USD 1,363.44

  • WMS-IV FLEXIBLE APPROACH Q-GLOBAL MANUAL (DIGITAL)
    A103000231406 Qualification Level C

    WMS-IV FLEXIBLE APPROACH Q-GLOBAL MANUAL (DIGITAL)

    USD 20.13

  • WMS-IV Design Card Set D Qty 16 (Print)
    0158895991 Qualification Level C

    USD 32.32

    Estimated to ship:4 weeks
  • WMS-IV FLEXIBLE APPROACH Q-GLOBAL ALTERNATE INDEXES WORKSHEET (DIGITAL)
    A103000231405 Qualification Level C

    WMS-IV FLEXIBLE APPROACH Q-GLOBAL ALTERNATE INDEXES WORKSHEET (DIGITAL)

    USD 20.13

  • WMS-IV Flexible Approach Q-global Stimulus Book and Administration Directions (Digital)
    A103000231414 Qualification Level C

    Once ordered, the digital assets are accessible by logging into Q-global and visiting the Q-global Resource Library. The stimulus book is a view-only digital file; the administration directions are downloadable.

    USD 182.85

  • WMS-IV Design Card Set Demonstration Qty 2 (Print)
    0158895959 Qualification Level C

    USD 4.49

    Estimated to ship:4 weeks
  • WMS-IV FLEXIBLE APPROACH Q-GLOBAL STIMULUS BOOK (DIGITAL)
    A103000231407 Qualification Level C

    WMS-IV FLEXIBLE APPROACH Q-GLOBAL STIMULUS BOOK (DIGITAL)

    USD 182.85

  • WMS-IV Flexible Approach Q-global Manual and Alternate Indexes Worksheet (Digital)
    A103000231415 Qualification Level C

    Once ordered, the digital asset is accessible by logging into Q-global and visiting the Q-global Resource Library. It is a downloadable file.

    USD 20.13

  • WMS-IV Design Card Set C Qty 12 (Print)
    0158895983 Qualification Level C

    USD 24.61

    Estimated to ship:4 weeks
  • WMS-IV Flexible Approach Supplemental Record Forms Qty 25 (Print)
    0158896327 Qualification Level C

    Supports VRLO and LONA Batteries

    USD 55.32

  • WMS-IV Flexible Approach Supplemental Stimulus Book (Print)
    0158896335 Qualification Level C

    Includes Logos I, Logos II, Names I and Names II

    USD 184.58

  • WMS-IV QG SCR RPT 1YEAR SUBS
    0150014562C Qualification Level C

    WMS-IV SCORE REPORT WITH 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION

    USD 57.50

  • WMS-IV KIT BOX LABEL
    0154895806 Qualification Level C

    WMS-IV KIT BOX LABEL

    USD 0.00

  • WMS-IV Q-global Administration and Scoring Manual (Digital)
    A103000231399 Qualification Level C

    Once ordered, the digital asset is accessible by logging into Q-global and visiting the Q-global Resource Library. It is a view-only digital file.

    USD 284.86

  • WMS-IV LUGGAGE TAG
    0154895814 Qualification Level C

    WMS-IV LUGGAGE TAG

    USD 5.18

  • WMS-IV Q-global Remote-Adapted Response Booklet (Digital)
    A103000231404 Qualification Level C

    Once ordered, the digital asset is accessible by logging into Q-global and visiting the Q-global Resource Library. It is a downloadable file.

    USD 7.13

  • WMS-IV OLDER ADULT AGE 65-90 REC FM
    0154895865 Qualification Level C

    WMS-IV OLDER ADULT AGE 65-90 RECORD FORM

    USD 3.45

  • WMS-IV Q-global Score Report Qty 1 (Digital)
    0150014562 Qualification Level C

    USD 2.76

    1-49 USD 2.76
    50-99 USD 2.65
    100-249 USD 2.53
    250+ USD 2.30
    Savings are estimated
  • WMS-IV FLEXIBLE APPROACH Q-GLOBAL STIMULUS BOOK ADMINISTRATION DIRECTIONS (DIGITAL)
    A103000231408 Qualification Level C

    WMS-IV FLEXIBLE APPROACH Q-GLOBAL STIMULUS BOOK ADMINISTRATION DIRECTIONS (DIGITAL)

    USD 182.85

  • WMS-IV Q-GLOBAL STIMULUS BOOK 2 (DIGITAL)
    A103000231402 Qualification Level C

    WMS-IV Q-GLOBAL STIMULUS BOOK 2 (DIGITAL)

    USD 241.27

  • WMS-IV Flexible Approach Record Forms Qty 25 (Print)
    0158896319 Qualification Level C

    Supports LMVR Battery

    USD 59.34

  • WMS-IV Q-GLOBAL STIMULUS BOOK 1 (DIGITAL)
    A103000231400 Qualification Level C

    WMS-IV Q-GLOBAL STIMULUS BOOK 1 (DIGITAL)

    USD 241.27

  • WMS-IV Q-GLOBAL STIMULUS BOOK 1 ADMINISTRATION DIRECTIONS (DIGITAL)
    A103000231401 Qualification Level C

    WMS-IV Q-GLOBAL STIMULUS BOOK 1 ADMINISTRATION DIRECTIONS (DIGITAL)

    USD 241.27

  • WMS-IV Older Adult Ages 65-90 Record Forms Qty 25 (Print)
    015889586X Qualification Level C

    USD 110.75

    Estimated to ship:4 weeks
  • WMS-IV Q-global Technical and Interpretive Manual (Digital)
    A103000231398 Qualification Level C

    Once ordered, the digital asset is accessible by logging into Q-global and visiting the Q-global Resource Library. It is a view-only digital file.

    USD 277.73

  • WMS-IV Response Booklets Qty 25 (Print)
    0158895908 Qualification Level C

    USD 79.81

    Estimated to ship:4 weeks
  • WMS-IV RESP BKLT
    0154895903 Qualification Level C

    WMS-IV RESPONSE BOOK

    USD 2.65

  • WMS-IV Q-global Stimulus Book 1 and Administration Directions (Digital)
    A103000231412 Qualification Level C

    Includes Brief Cognitive Status Exam, Visual Reproduction I, Logical Memory I and Spatial Addition. Once ordered, the digital assets are accessible by logging into Q-global and visiting the Q-global Resource Library. The stimulus book is a view-only digital file; the administration directions are downloadable.

    USD 241.27

  • WMS-IV Stimulus Book 1 (Print)
    0158895835 Qualification Level C

    Includes Brief Cognitive Status Exam, Visual Reproduction I, Logical Memory I and Spatial Addition

    USD 243.57

    Estimated to ship:4 weeks
  • WMS-IV Q-global Stimulus Book 2 and Administration Directions (Digital)
    A103000231413 Qualification Level C

    Includes Visual Reproduction II, Logical Memory II, Verbal Paired Associates I, Designs I, Symbol Span, Verbal Paired Associates II and Designs II. Once ordered, the digital assets are accessible by logging into Q-global and visiting the Q-global Resource Library. The stimulus book is a view-only digital file; the administration directions are downloadable.

    USD 241.27

  • WMS-IV Stimulus Book 2 (Print)
    0158895843 Qualification Level C

    Includes Visual Reproduction II, Logical Memory II, Verbal Paired Associates I, Designs I, Symbol Span, Verbal Paired Associates II and Designs II

    USD 243.57

    Estimated to ship:4 weeks
  • WMS-IV Q-GLOBAL STIMULUS BOOK 2 ADMINISTRATION DIRECTIONS (DIGITAL)
    A103000231403 Qualification Level C

    WMS-IV Q-GLOBAL STIMULUS BOOK 2 ADMINISTRATION DIRECTIONS (DIGITAL)

    USD 241.27

  • WMS-IV Spatial Addition Card Set Qty 16 (Print)
    0158895924 Qualification Level C

    USD 34.39

  • WMS-IV Technical Manual (Print)
    0158895827 Qualification Level C

    USD 280.37

  • WMS-IV SUBASM (GRID/TEMPLATE)
    0154895946 Qualification Level C

    WMS-IV SUBASSEMBLY GRID KEY

    USD 74.06

  • WMS-IV WELCOME LETTER
    0154895911 Qualification Level C

    WMS-IV WELCOME LETTER

    USD 0.00

  • WMS-IV/Bcse Scoring Template (Print)
    0158895940 Qualification Level B

    USD 20.24

  • Standard Q-interactive License · 1 Year (Digital)
    9780139800054 Qualification Level C

    Tests Included:
    BBCS-4R, BSRA-4, CELF-5 UK, CVLT-3, CVLT-C, D-KEFS, EVT, KTEA-3, NEPSY-II, RBANS, WAIS-IV UK, WIAT-III UK, WISC-V UK, WMS-IV UK, WRAT-5

    Please Note:
    All licenses require the purchase of subtests (product number 9780749167615). Please add these to your cart before checkout. A minimum number of 150 subtests are required. Tiered pricing is available.

    USD 292.10

    1-4 USD 292.10
    5-25 USD 255.59
    26+ USD 219.08
    Savings are estimated
  • WMS-IV UK Stimulus Book 1 (Print)
    9780749150327 Qualification Level C

    Includes:

    • Brief Cognitive Status Exam
    • Visual Reproduction I
    • Logical Memory I
    • Spatial Addition

    USD 274.57

  • WMS-IV UK Stimulus Book 2 (Print)
    9780749150334 Qualification Level C

    Includes:

    • Visual Reproduction II
    • Logical Memory II
    • Verbal Paired Associates I
    • Designs I
    • Symbol Span
    • Verbal Paired Associates II
    • Designs II

    USD 274.57

  • WMS-IV UK Adult Battery Record Forms
    9780749150341 Qualification Level C

    Pack of 25

    USD 173.80

    Estimated to ship:4 weeks
  • WMS-IV UK Complete Kit in Trolley Case
    9780749169183 Qualification Level C

    Includes:

    • Admin Manual
    • Stimulus Books 1 and 2
    • Adult Battery Record Forms (25)
    • Older Adult Battery Record Forms (25) Response Booklets (25)
    • Memory grid
    • Scoring Template in envelope
    • Designs and spatial addition cards
    • WMS-IV US Technical Manual in a trolley Backpack

    USD 1,838.77

    Estimated to ship:1 week
  • WMS-IV Q-global Stimulus Book 1 and Administration Directions (Digital)
    9780749173395 Qualification Level C

    Includes:

    • Brief Cognitive Status Exam
    • Visual Reproduction I
    • Logical Memory I
    • Spatial Addition

    Once ordered, the digital assets are accessible by logging into Q-global and visiting the Q-global Resource Library. The stimulus book is a view-only digital file; the administration directions are downloadable.

    USD 302.32

  • WMS-IV Q-global Administration and Scoring Manual (Digital)
    9780749173401 Qualification Level C

    Once ordered, the digital asset is accessible by logging into Q-global and visiting the Q-global Resource Library. It is a view-only digital file.

    USD 357.82

  • WMS-IV UK Older Adult Battery Record Forms
    9780749150358 Qualification Level C

    Pack of 25

    USD 134.37

    Estimated to ship:4 weeks
  • WMS-IV Q-global Stimulus Book 2 (Digital)
    9780749173418 Qualification Level C

    Includes:

    • Visual Reproduction II
    • Logical Memory II
    • Verbal Paired Associates I
    • Designs I
    • Symbol Span
    • Verbal Paired Associates II and Designs II

    Once ordered, the digital assets are accessible by logging into Q-global and visiting the Q-global Resource Library. The stimulus book is a view-only digital file; the administration directions are downloadable.

    USD 302.32

  • WMS-IV UK Response Booklets
    9780749150396 Qualification Level C

    Pack of 25

    USD 97.85

    Estimated to ship:4 weeks
  • WMS-IV UK Administration and Scoring Manual
    9780749150310 Qualification Level C

    USD 276.03

  • WMS-IV UK Memory Grid
    9780749150372 Qualification Level C

    USD 94.93

  • WMS-IV UK Design & Spat Cards
    9780749150389 Qualification Level C

    USD 162.12

  • WMS-IV UK Scoring Template
    9780749150365 Qualification Level B

    USD 30.67

Overview

Publication date:
2009
Age range:
16:0 to 90.11 years
Scores/Interpretation:
Contrast Scores
Qualification level:
C
Administration:
Paper-and-pencil or digital
Scoring options:
Q-interactive® Administration and Scoring, Q-global® Scoring & Reporting, Manual scoring, Scoring Assistant® and Report Writer software
Other languages:
Japanese, Traditional-Chinese, Korean, Chinese
Telepractice:
Guidance on using this test in your telepractice

Product Details

Introducing WMS-IV Flexible Approach

WMS-IV Flexible Approach includes new materials and data that enable more flexible assessment.

Get a closer look 

The WMS-IV was developed to provide the most trustworthy, advanced measure of memory and results for addressing the changing clinical landscape.

Benefits

  • Expanded clinical utility.
  • Increased caseload.
  • Reduce subtest administration time.
  • Minimize visual motor demands.

Features

Significant changes have been made to the WMS-IV based on individual client needs and examiner preferences.

  • New WMS-IV Flexible Approach enables more flexible assessment based on individual client needs and examiner preferences.
  • 3 modified subtests: Logical Memory, Verbal Paired Associates, Visual Reproduction.
  • 4 new subtests: Spatial Addition, Symbol Span, Design Memory, General Cognitive Screener (screener can be used to quickly evaluate significant cognitive impairment). 
  • 8 subtests eliminated: Information & Orientation, Spatial Span, Mental Control, Faces, Digit Span, Family Pictures, Letter Number, Word List.
  • Improved floors and composite reliability, enhanced assessment of visual memory, and reduced item bias.
  • Subtest configurations that yield Immediate, Delayed, Visual and Auditory Memory Index scores.
  • Co-normed with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale®-IV.
  • Updated normative data for ages 16-90 and enhanced utility for older adults.

Telepractice

Find out how to use this test in your telepractice.

Learn more

 

At a glance

Get a closer look at the benefits and features of this product.

WMS-IV

WMS-IV Flexible Approach

 

New Subtests

 

Spatial Addition Subtest

Spatial Addition

Clients must remember location of dots on two separate pages, add or subtract locations, and hold and manipulate visual spatial information.

Symbol Span Subtest

Symbol Span

Clients are asked to remember the design and the left to right sequence of the design, then select the correct design from foils and choose them in the correct sequence.

Design Memory Subtest

Design Memory

Design Memory evaluates immediate and delayed recall as well as delayed recognition. It does not include drawing and reduces the opportunity to guess the correct response. 

WMS-IV Flexible Approach Batteries

 
Standard WMS-IV

This consists of the 7 primary subtests that comprise the full WMS-IV battery and provide coverage for all the memory indexes.

LMVR and LMDE

LMVR, consists of Logical Memory (LM) and Visual Reproduction (VR), and LMDE consists of Logical Memory and Designs (DE).

VRLO and LONA

This set of alternate batteries focuses on using supplemental subtests for assessing visual memory, which is a difficult construct to measure.

OAA

The OAA battery was developed in the standard WMS-IV as a shorter battery for use with older adults ages 65 to 90.

LMDE and OAA batteries can be collected using standard WMS-IV record forms and an accompanying worksheet provided in the WMS-IV Flexible Manual.

Sample Reports

Scores are now derived for Older Adult Battery (65–90) and Adult Battery (16–69). Index scores include: Auditory Memory, Visual Memory, Visual Working Memory, Immediate Memory, and Delayed Memory. New contrast scores provide information on clinical significance of changes in scores across subtests or indexes.

The following scoring information and samples are available for WMS-IV.

 

Resources

FAQs

Frequently asked questions follow. Click on a question to see the response.

On the Brief Cognitive Status Exam, Item 11 (Inhibition), the examiner is supposed to administer the sample item, and then tell the examinee to do the same thing for the actual item. After I demonstrate the entire row and tell them I want them to do the “same thing,” should the examinee redo the first row that I just showed them and continue on, or should they begin with Line 2 (and continue from where I left off)?

The examinee begins back at the first item of the first row. The maximum number of points for this item is 24, reflecting the 24 shapes in the item.

The verbal load on many of the Visual Memory and Visual Working Memory subtest instructions seems substantial. We are concerned that the difficulties a client may experience in understanding the directions may cloud the results of these Visual Memory subtests.

Working memory is presented for a visual modality in WMS–IV as the Visual Working Memory Index. This index is derived from the sum of scaled scores for Spatial Addition and Symbol Span. Construction of stimuli used for these subtests purposely minimized the degree to which the stimuli could be verbalized and, subsequently, invoking the verbal working memory system. VWMI correlates at .53 with Verbal Comprehension, similar to the correlation with Processing Speed (r = .51), but less than Perceptual Reasoning (r = .67) and Working Memory (r = .62). There is no evidence of a negative impact to VWMI relative to other skill areas in the clinical samples with significant language deficits. If you have a concern about a specific client not understanding the instructions, it is allowable to repeat the examples and directions until they understand the task.

Please explain why the Designs task is better than the Faces task. Besides the fact that it is more difficult to verbally mediate the Designs task, and that there may be other confounds on a face memory task, it seems that there are significant executive functioning demands with Designs and it appears to be an incredibly difficult task! (i.e., there are lots of distracters that have many similarities to the target stimuli; consequently, establishing relevant from irrelevant may be difficult).

Face memory is a specific type of memory function that is often impaired in clinical groups with known social perception deficits (e.g., Schizophrenia, Autism) and is sometimes sensitive to right–left differences in temporal lobe epilepsy. The WMS–III Faces subtest has a relatively high guess rate that lowers its reliability relative to other memory tasks. Faces generally has low communality with other memory measures. The Faces subtest is useful for specific types of memory evaluations, but results may not operate as expected as a general indicator of visual memory. The Designs subtest was developed specifically to measure spatial and detail segments of memory functioning, as well as the integration of these in recall. This follows the segmentation of the visual system that has a dorsal stream, which processes primarily visual-spatial aspects of memory and the ventral stream that processes visual details with the purpose of attaching verbal labels where possible. Most visual memory measures do not enable the examiner to differentiate the nature of the visual memory problem and, therefore, makes interpretation more difficult. As far as executive functioning or attention to detail is concerned, the Designs subtest is comparable to most visual memory measures in this respect. For example, in the Faces subtest, the distracter faces are similar to one of the target faces. Family Pictures (WMS–III) and Picture Memory (WRAML–II) require attention to details, as well as visual scanning and search abilities. Tests such as the Rey-Complex Figure are used to measure executive functioning (see Bernstein & Waber, 1996) and visual memory. The Designs subtest requires fewer demands on executive functioning than other commonly used visual memory measures.

What are Contrast Scores and how do I use them?

Contrast scores enable you to partition overlapping variance between related abilities or a precursor ability of the construct of interest. In the contrast score name, the first score is the control variable and the second score is the dependent measure. For example, in the Logical Memory Immediate Recall vs. Delayed Recall contrast scaled score, the Logical Memory I scaled score is the control variable and the Logical Memory II scaled score is the dependent measure.

Contrast scaled scores are scaled on a mean of 10 and a standard deviation of 3, but should not be considered a replacement for the standard age-adjusted scaled scores. Contrast scores supplement standard age-adjusted scores and answer specific questions regarding an examinee’s performance. They should not be reported or interpreted as being the examinee’s performance relative to same-age peers.

Continuing with the Logical Memory example, the standard age-adjusted scaled score answers the question, “Is the examinee’s Logical Memory Delayed Recall impaired?” while the contrast score answers the question, “Is the examinee’s Logical Memory Delayed Recall impaired given their initial encoding of the stories during Immediate Recall?” This contrast score reflects the examinee’s performance during delayed recall controlling for performance during immediate recall. In other words, the Logical Memory II scaled score is being adjusted for the Logical Memory I scaled score.

Using the contrast score to supplement the information provided by the standard age-adjusted score, the interpretation of the two scores may be, “Client A’s Logical Memory Delayed Recall is in the Borderline range of functioning in comparison to same age peers. However, given the amount of material initially encoded during Immediate Recall, Client A’s performance is within the Low Average range of functioning.”

Contrast scores between 8 and 12 indicate that performance on the control and dependent variables is not significantly different. For example, the examinee’s delayed recall is what you would expect given their initial encoding of the stories. Contrast scores greater than 12 suggest, for example, that delayed recall is better than expected given their initial encoding of the stories. Contrast scores less than 8 suggest delayed recall is worse than expected given the examinee’s initial encoding of the stories. For further case studies using Contrast scores, see the Contrast Scaled Scores presentation on the WMS–IV website.

Which medications were listed as acceptable and how did you decide they were? What medications were examinees taking, e.g., Aricept for Alzheimer’s?

The exclusion and inclusion criteria in the WMS–IV Technical and Interpretive Manual Table 2.1 and Appendix D, respectively, list medication guidelines used in the normative sample and special groups. Medications were designated as acceptable, provisionally acceptable, or excluded during standardization case collection. A key factor in deciding the acceptability of a medication was its impact on the examinee’s functioning during test administration. The Neppe Psychological Symptom Questionnaire (NPSQ) and NPSQ Acceptance Criteria Checklist were used in the initial screening to gather information on medication type, reason for taking it, dosage/frequency, and any side effects/symptoms within 2 days prior to testing. Cases that involved excluded medications or did not meet NPSQ criteria were excluded from the study. The WMS–IV development team made decisions on a case-by-case basis if medications were not included on one of the three lists or were excluded for other reasons (e.g., off-label medication use). A variety of medications were being taken by individuals in the normative and clinical groups. In all circumstances, allowed medications were not suspected of interfering with an examinee’s test performance. Examiners reported on whether they felt medication use affected examinee test performance.

Do you have more information about the clinical groups reported in the WMS–IV (e.g., TBI, ALZ)?

The WMS–IV Technical and Interpretive Manual lists the Exclusion criteria (Table 2.1) and the general and special group-specific inclusion criteria (Appendix D) reported. Where appropriate, DSM-IV-TR criteria and other well-established guidelines for diagnostic purposes were followed. When possible, information regarding premorbid functioning was gathered.

Where can I get training on administering the WMS–IV?

A brief training video has been produced by Pearson and will be available to all WMS–IV users. You may also contact our customer service line for specific questions about the WMS–IV, including requests for webinars or site training sessions.

In the past, the Wechsler Memory Test came with a cardboard easel so that the instruction panels are not visible to the examinee. The WMS–IV does not. What did the developers consider when they changed the format of the stimulus books?

We received many customer complaints about the durability of the WMS–III Stimulus Books. Using a flat Stimulus Book should improve the lifespan of the materials and improve administration. It’s easier to administer Symbol Span, Designs Recognition, and Visual Reproduction with a flat Stimulus Book because the examinee is required to point to a response. The flat presentation also reduces the likelihood that the examiner will need to ask the examinee for a verbal response. For the Spatial Addition and Designs tasks, a flat Stimulus Book presents the same visual plane as the examinee’s responses, reducing the confounding spatial resolution issues between the presentation and response mode. The WMS–IV was normed using a flat Stimulus Book. If you prop up the book, it is considered a nonstandardized administration and would possibly invalidate test results. To facilitate the flat orientation, all correct responses have been moved to the Record Forms.

My office just changed our operating system from XP to VistA. We were told by a Pearson representative that there is no upgrade for the CVLT–II. Is that true?

CVLT–II was recently certified to work on Vista operating systems, both 32 bit and 64 bit OS, so there should be no issue. An update is not required to work with WMS–IV.

Why is there no opportunity to repeat the Joe Garcia story? Many clinicians like to evaluate if repeating the story benefits the examinee and if there is a difference in narrative recall for immediate and delayed recall for each of the stories.

The repetition of Joe Garcia was dropped because there is already a learning task on Verbal Paired Associates. If you repeat the Joe Garcia story, you cannot compare how well someone performs on delayed recall when they have the repetition versus when they do not. It was necessary to repeat a story for the older age group because there would be insufficient floor if it was not repeated.

Why is the WMS–IV devoid of human figures?

The decision was made to omit the Faces subtest from WMS–IV and include it in the Advanced Clinical Solutions for WAIS-IV and WMS–IV Social Cognition battery. The Faces subtest measures a very specific memory process that is not necessarily the best measure for routine neuropsychological evaluations. If you are assessing individuals with Schizophrenia or an Autism Spectrum disorder, you may find the ACS Social Perception subtest very beneficial. The subtest provides valuable information about facial processing without the memory component If you prefer to use Family Pictures or Faces, you may continue to use the WMS–III version. Remember that the norms only get softer, so if an individual is mildly impaired, the older norms may not detect the more subtle memory impairment.

The Spatial Addition task seems as if it would be too confusing for impaired or elderly patients. If you are testing patients with Alzheimer’s disease, can they understand the task and get a scoreable response?

The Spatial Addition task is for examinees, ages 16–69 years, who are taking the Adult Battery. Many of the examinees classified as Probable Dementia in the Alzheimer’s Type group were administered the Older Adult Battery and did not have the opportunity to take Spatial Addition. The Mild Cognitive Impairment group did not have difficulty understanding the task and producing scoreable responses. If an examinee is younger than age 65 and has difficulty understanding the task due to severe dementia, they most likely will have difficulty throughout much of the evaluation. In the moderate and mild intellectually disabled groups, the VWMI, which Spatial Addition contributes to, was consistent with their overall working memory abilities and General Ability.

Why was Digit Span dropped from WMS–IV?

One of the WMS–IV development goals was to eliminate content that overlaps with the WAIS–IV, which affected a few subtests. Dropping Digit Span ensured that the same construct (i.e., working memory) was not measured in the same modality in both instruments and ensured that disparate working memory scores between the two batteries would not occur. WMS–III and WAIS–III had disparate working memory scores because different subtests contributed to the Working Memory Indexes. WAIS-III and WMS–III Indexes included Letter-Number Sequencing, but Spatial Span was the second contributing subtest in WMS–III with Digit Span considered only as an optional subtest. By dropping Digit Span, the WMS–IV has a strong focus on components of visual working memory and the WAIS-IV focuses on auditory working memory.

Why was Letter-Number Sequencing dropped from WMS–IV?

The elimination of Letter-Number Sequencing ensured that the same construct (i.e., working memory) was not measured in the same modality in both instruments. Both WAIS-III and WMS–III included Letter-Number Sequencing in the Working Memory Index. The elimination of Letter-Number Sequencing strengthens the focus of WMS–IV on components of visual working memory, while WAIS–IV focuses on auditory working memory.

Why were the Mental Control, Information, and Orientation subtests dropped from WMS–IV?

These subtests were moved from the WMS–IV to the Brief Cognitive Status Exam (BCSE). Their usefulness in providing sensitivity and differentiation between normal and clinical performance and as a brief screening of an individual’s level of cognitive functioning was proven during standardization. The BCSE yielded similar or better information than the MMSE and AQT. Each of these subtests was optional in the WMS–III and customer surveys revealed that they were rarely administered.

Why was Faces dropped from WMS–IV?

The Faces subtest was revised and is part of the Advanced Clinical Solutions for WAIS-IV and WMS–IV. Faces is a specific memory process that does not correlate well with other memory functions and has limited sensitivity as a general visual memory tool. An examinee’s performance on the Faces subtest provides important information about social cognition, because it measures face discrimination as well as recognition.

Why was Family Pictures dropped?

Family Pictures was dropped because it is not a true visual memory task, it is primarily a visual-verbal association task. For the most part, Family Pictures is a verbal measure resulting in the WMS–III Visual Memory Index not holding well together. The WMS–IV Visual Memory Index is a more pure visual memory measure than the WMS–III. The Family Pictures subtest could be failed for a number of reasons including, naming difficulties, spatial memory problems, difficulties remembering visual details, impairments in visual-verbal association memory etc. The WMS–IV visual memory subtests help differentiate performance on some aspects of these while minimizing the impact of verbal encoding.

Why was Spatial Span dropped?

Examiners expressed concerns about tracking and recording of examinee responses which contributed to the decision to drop Spatial Span from the WMS–IV. One of the development goals for WMS–IV was to develop visual working memory tasks that require mental manipulation of visual information which Spatial Span does not since neither the backward nor forward condition require the examinee to operate on the information that have been shown.

Why was Word List dropped?

The Word List subtest was optional in WMS–III. The elimination of this subtest shortened the overall administration of the WMS–IV while the ability to substitute the CVLT-II scores for the Auditory, Immediate and Delayed Indexes was added to give examiners flexibility in the measures they wish to use including a type of word list task.

Why does WMS–IV focus on Visual Working Memory with out Verbal Working Memory?

A development goal for the WMS–IV was to avoid overlapping modalities and constructs with the WAIS-IV. The working memory tasks in the WAIS-IV require greater verbal demand thus the WMS–IV working memory focuses on a visual modality.

I often use Demographically Adjusted Norms, will those be available and if so, when?

These types of adjusted norms will be available through the ACS software late 2009.

I test low functioning individuals who appear to have difficulty completing the WMS–IV tasks. Is the WMS–IV appropriate for this population?

The WMS–IV showed good clinical utility, reliability, and concurrent validity during standardization, particularly in clinical groups. Although individuals express difficulty with these subtests, even moderately impaired individuals were able to complete some of the items, particularly on Designs. The Designs subtest is perceived by many individuals to be difficult specifically because the stimuli are difficult to verbalize. The language centers of the brain naturally want to name objects to ease encoding and thus invoke verbal memory processes to aid visual memory functioning. The Designs subtest has multiple items of varying difficulty subsequently it is not difficult for examinees to get some points. The examinee may need to be encouraged to try even though it seems difficult. Interestingly, the intellectually disabled (mild and moderate) had some of their best scores on the Designs subtest. On Spatial Addition we did not see very many 0 scores during standardization so even very impaired people were completing the task correctly on early items, they just tended to discontinue earlier.

 

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