Intellectual Assessment

Intellectual Assessment

Lloyd A. Taylor, Cara B. Reeves and Erin Jeffords

The practice of estimating intellectual abilities dates back to the beginnings of scientific thought. Greek philosophers and modern-day psychologists alike have attempted to understand the nature of human intelligence and to devise methods by which to measure intellectual capabilities. These intellectual assessments often play important roles in diagnoses of learning disabilities, academic placement, occupational selection, and medical treatment plans. Additionally, intellectual assessments routinely have a significant role in the conceptualization of neurocognitive sequelae following traumatic injuries. Thus, the methods by which we estimate intellectual functioning, and the scientific integrity of these assessment tools, are critical to our
practice as psychologists.
The goals of this chapter are to provide an overview of the history of intellectual assessment and common definitions of intelligence. We additionally review traditional intellectual assessment tools, as well as more recent additions to the intellectual assessment arsenal.We discuss the impact of intellectual assessment in the context of psychoeducational assessments and review legislation related to intellectual assessment in the context of educational settings. Finally, we provide two clinical case examples to reiterate the role of cognitive assessment in clinical practice. More