A comparison of the WISC-III and the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test with students referred for learning disabilities

The Otis-Lennon School Ability Test-Sixth Edition (OLSAT-6) and the Wechsle r Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition (WISC-III) were administere d to 201 elementary school children who were referred for evaluation of pos sible learning disabilities. The OLSAT-6 and the WISC-III were significantl y correlated (r =.62, r(2) = 38%), although the WISC-III Full Scale IQs wer e significantly higher than the OLSAT-6 Total scores. In two-thirds of case s, the OLSAT-6 Total score underestimated the WISC-III Full Scale IQ by a r ange of 1 to 35 points. The standard error of estimate for the OLSAT-6 in p redicting the WISC-III was 7.48 points. ne use of the OLSAT-6 in estimating overall intellectual abilities in children with suspected learning disabil ities is not encouraged because it may frequently underestimate students' a ctual abilities, which may result in fewer appropriate referrals for furthe r educational and intellectual assessment.