wechsler

Wechsler is a surname of German origin, derived from the occupation of a money changer or exchanger. It is common among Ashkenazi Jewish families and is borne by several notable individuals in science, academia, and the arts.

The most prominent association is David Wechsler (1896–1981), a Romanian-born American psychologist who developed the Wechsler scale family of intelligence tests. He designed these instruments to assess cognitive abilities across different age groups and to provide interpretable profiles of cognitive strengths and weaknesses. The Wechsler scales have become among the most widely used tools for clinical assessment of intelligence.

The Wechsler scales include the WAIS for adults, the WISC for children, and the WPPSI for preschool and primary-aged children. Each test yields a Full Scale IQ score along with several index scores that group cognitive domains such as Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory, and Processing Speed. The scales have undergone several revisions to improve reliability, validity, and cultural fairness; notable editions include WAIS-IV, WISC-V, and WPPSI-IV, with earlier editions dating to the mid-20th century.

Today, the Wechsler scales are widely used in clinical, educational, and research settings to assist with diagnostic decisions, educational planning, and psychosocial assessment. They are widely standardized on large, representative samples but have faced critique regarding cultural and linguistic biases inherent in standardized testing.

See also: Wechsler scales.