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.
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.
The most widely used scale of adult memory has been revised and enhanced to provide you with the most advanced measure and results you can trust.
Age Range:16:0 to 90.11 years
RTI Tiers:RTI Level 3
Scores/Interpretation:Contrast Scores
Publication Date:2009
Read about the new Flexible Approach!
In recognition of emerging demographic and clinical trends, the WMS—IV was developed to provide you with the most advanced measure of memory and results you can trust when addressing the changing clinical landscape.
The WMS-IV has had significant changes to the overall test structure. Based on feedback from customers, we are introducing four new subtests and modifying three existing subtests.
Based on “N-Back Paradigm”, Spatial Addition requires minimal motor function as the client must:
A “Visual analog to Digit Span”, clients are asked to remember the design and the left to right sequence of the design. The clients are then asked to select the correct design from foils and choose them in the correct sequence.
No more motor requirements
Containing four items of increasing difficulty, 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. You can obtain scores for spatial, details, and correct content in the correct location as well as contrast scores for spatial versus detail, immediate versus delayed, and recognition versus delayed.
Obtain scores for spatial, details, and correct content in the correct location.
This new screener can be used to quickly evaluate significant cognitive impairment. You can assess:
Also available are classification tables that translate total scores into Average, Low, Moderately low, and Very low.
For use with the WMS-IV kit, new materials and data are now available that enable more flexible assessment based on individual client needs and examiner preferences.
Read the WMS–IV Flexible Approach Information Sheet
The WMS-IV offers a number of subtest configurations that yield Immediate, Delayed, Visual and Auditory Memory Index scores. The combinations of subtests reflect the desire to reduce administration time and to address specific clinical situations (e.g., limited motor ability).
The 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.
The OAA* Battery: The OAA battery was developed in the standard WMS-IV as a shorter battery for use with older adults ages 65 to 90. This battery configuration was made available for examinees ages 16 through 69 in the WMS-IV Flex. The OAA battery uses LM, VR, and Verbal Paired Associates (VPA) to derive Immediate, Delayed, Auditory, and Visual Indexes.
The LMVR and LMDE* Batteries:
Two shorter alternative batteries were developed: LMVR, consisting of Logical Memory (LM) and Visual Reproduction (VR), and LMDE, consisting of Logical Memory and Designs (DE). LM and VR are the most frequently used subtests in the previous editions of the WMS and provide coverage for all the memory indexes. The second configuration of LM and DE retains the
content coverage with reduced motor demands.
The VRLO and LONA Batteries:
The last set of alternate batteries focuses on using supplemental subtests for assessing visual memory, which is a difficult construct to measure. During the development of the WMS-IV, two additional memory subtests were created: Logos (LO) and Names (NA). These two subtests provide optional measures of visual memory with the understanding that auditory memory functioning will also affect performance on these tests.
*LMDE and OAA batteries can be collected using standard WMS-IV record forms and an accompanying worksheet provided in the WMS-IV Flexible Manual.
View a sample copy of the Scoring Report to accompany WMS-IV
Two pricing options are now available for scoring and reporting on Q-global. In addition to the current per-report price, there is now an unlimited-use scoring and reporting subscription available in one-, three-, and five-year terms.
Important note: Each subscription is per user for the WMS-IV only and will begin on the date of order processing unless otherwise requested.
LMVR and LMDE Configurations – Case Study
OAA Configuration – Case Study
LONA Configuration – Case Study
WMS-III to WMS-IV: Rationale for Change
Clinical and Psychometric Properties of new WMS-IV Subtests PDF – 80 KB)
This pre-recorded 20-30 minute session allows you to learn at your leisure. All you need is access to the Internet and the sound enabled on your computer. Please keep in mind that the session may take a few minutes to load.
This session provides you with essential information regarding the features of the WMS-IV.
Presenter: Gloria Maccow, PhD
This hour-and-a-half long webinar will focus on interpretation of the data from the WAIS-IV and WMS-IV. The presenter will use data from the assessment instruments to describe strengths and needs in reasoning ability and memory. The data will be linked to the demands of the individual’s functional environment in an effort to identify appropriate interventions.
This webinar is designed for clinicians who are familiar with the administration and scoring of WAIS-IV and WMS-IV subtests.
Date: Sep 13, 2011
Presenter: Gloria Maccow, PhD
The Wechsler Memory Scale-Fourth Edition is an individually administered battery designed to assess various memory and working memory abilities of individuals ages 16-90 years. The WMS-IV offers a brief evaluation of cognitive status and provides a detailed assessment of clinically-relevant aspects of memory functioning commonly reported in individuals with suspected memory deficits or diagnosed with a wide range of neurological, psychiatric, and developmental disorders. Scores from the WMS-IV subtests are organized into summary index scores.
WMS-IV Introductory Webinar
This introductory, overview webinar will describe administration and scoring of the subtests and interpretation of the results. The webinar will be presented in three separate modules, each one hour in length. During Module One, the presenter will discuss the administration and scoring of the Brief Cognitive Status Exam and the subtests on the Auditory Memory Index. Module Two will focus on administration and scoring of the subtests on the Visual Memory Index and the Visual Working Memory Index. Module Three will focus on the basic interpretation of WMS-IV results.
WMS-IV: Module One
During Module One, the presenter will discuss the administration and scoring of the Brief Cognitive Status Exam and the subtests on the Auditory Memory Index.
WMS-IV: Module Two
Module Two will focus on administration and scoring of the subtests on the Visual Memory Index and the Visual Working Memory Index.
WMS-IV: Module Three
Module Three will focus on the basic interpretation of WMS-IV results.
Date: Sep 09, 2011
Presenter: Gloria Maccow, PhD
The WMS®–IV Flexible Approach uses core and supplemental memory measures to expand the usability and utility of the Wechsler Memory Scale®–Fourth Edition (WMS–IV; Wechsler, 2009). The WMS®–IV Flexible Approach enables clinicians to identify memory difficulties by using alternate indexes derived from new subtest configurations. These alternate indexes and supplemental subtests were designed to create shorter or alternate memory assessments for use with the standard WMS–IV kit. The WMS–IV Flexible Approach allows the examiner to complete a survey of memory functions when a comprehensive evaluation of memory functioning is not required or cannot be completed.
During this one hour webinar, the presenter will describe the WMS®–IV Flexible Approach Batteries. The focus will be on the available subtest combinations clinicians can use to derive Index scores for Immediate, Delayed, Visual, and Auditory Memory.
Date: Mar 08, 2011
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 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.
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).
What are Contrast Scores and how do I use them?
Which medications were listed as acceptable and how did you decide they were? What medications were examinees taking, e.g., Aricept for Alzheimer’s?
Do you have more information about the clinical groups reported in the WMS–IV (e.g., TBI, ALZ)?
Where can I get training on administering the WMS–IV?
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?
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?
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.
Why is the WMS–IV devoid of human figures?
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?
Why was Digit Span dropped from WMS–IV?
Why was Letter-Number Sequencing dropped from WMS–IV?
Why were the Mental Control, Information, and Orientation subtests dropped from WMS–IV?
Why was Faces dropped from WMS–IV?
Why was Family Pictures dropped?
Why was Spatial Span dropped?
Why was Word List dropped?
Why does WMS–IV focus on Visual Working Memory with out Verbal Working Memory?
I often use Demographically Adjusted Norms, will those be available and if so, when?
I test low functioning individuals who appear to have difficulty completing the WMS–IV tasks. Is the WMS–IV appropriate for this population?
