WAIS-R Digit Symbol Patterns for Persons 75 Years and Older

Abstract

This study addressed the hypothesis that elderly individuals display a “warm-up” pattern on the Digit Symbol subtest when performance is recorded at 30, 60, and 90 seconds (Kaplan, Fein, Morris, & Delis, 1991). Patterns of performance for the three intervals were explored in a sample of 221 normal persons 75 years and older. Means for age, education, and Full Scale IQ were 80.54 years (SD = 4,85), 10.94 years (SD = 2.89), and 103.73 (SD = 14.27), respectively. Two methods were used to derive patterns of Digit Symbol performance: (1) Ward's hierarchical cluster analysis and (2) simple difference scores between the three time periods. The “warm-up” pattern emerged infrequently and cannot be considered characteristic of persons 75 years and older.

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References

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