Two abbreviated versions of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III: Validation among persons with traumatic brain injury

Objective: To examine the clinical value of two 7-subtest versions of the W echsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III): one using Block Design (WA IS-III/BD7) and another using Matrix Reasoning (WAIS-III/MR7) among persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Study Design: Actual obtained scores fr om the full WAIS-III were compared with scores that would have been obtaine d using each of the two abbreviated versions. Participants: One hundred eig hteen persons with TBI tested consecutively in an academic medical center o utpatient neuropsychology laboratory. Results: For the WAIS-III/BD7, correc ted validity coefficients were .97 (Verbal IQ [VIQ]), .94 (Performance IQ [ PIQ]), and .97 (Full Scale IQ [FSIQ]); 92%, 70%, and 92% of scores fell wit hin 5 points of full version scores for VIQ, PIQ, and FSIQ, respectively. W AIS-III/MR7 corrected validity coefficients were .97 (VIQ), .95 (PIQ), and .97 (FSIQ); 92%, 76%, and 92% of short-form scores were within 5 points of actual scores for VIQ, PIQ, and FSIQ, respectively. Conclusions: Both abbre viated versions demonstrated acceptable psychometric characteristics, but t he matrix reasoning version may be more advantageous in assessing persons w ith TBI because it can be used with persons who have TBI-related motor skil ls impairment.