Dean-Woodcock Neuropsychological Assessment System
Encyclopedia
The Dean-Woodcock Neuropsychological Assessment
System (DWNAS) provides a standardized procedure for assessing an individual’s sensory
, motor
, emotional, cognitive, and academic functioning for both English and Spanish speakers, based on the Cattell-Horn-Carroll Model (CHC). The instrument may be administered by psychologists
, that need not have neuropsychological backgrounds
.
The DWNB consists of the Dean-Woodcock Sensory-Motor Battery (DWSMB) (Dean & Woodcock, 2003c), the Dean-Woodcock Structured Neuropsychological Interview (Dean & Woodcock, 2003d), and the Dean-Woodcock Emotional Status Examination (Dean & Woodcock, 2003a). When the DWNAS is used with the Woodcock Johnson III (WJ III) (Woodcock, McGrew, & Mather, 2001), or the Bateria III Woodcock-Muñoz (Bateria III) (Muñoz-Sandoval, Woodcock, McGrew, & Mather, 2004), a comprehensive profile of an individual’s sensory, motor, emotional, cognitive, and academic functioning may be obtained. The DWNAS offers a neuropsychological interpretation of the WJ III and Bateria III. A fundamental element of the DWNAS is that it provides both a clinical neurological and empirical theoretical base (CHC) to assessment. The DWSMB is a battery of tests drawn primarily from the traditional neurological examination to provide comprehensive coverage of basic sensory, motor functions and sub-cortical functioning, most of which have pathognomonic neurological signs. The DWSMB is divided into two major sections—sensory and/or the Bateria III motor. Motor tests are predominantly meant to measure motor functioning at the cortical level. Multiple cognitive functions necessary in neuropsychological assessment are offered by the WJ-III or the Bateria III. The Dean-Woodcock Structured Interview and the Dean-Woodcock Emotional Status Examination provide pertinent information regarding the patient's history and current psychological and medical functioning. Further, they address the need in neuropsychological assessment to consider factors that may inhibit or facilitate a patient's performance.
Neuropsychological assessment
Neuropsychological assessment was traditionally carried out to assess the extent of impairment to a particular skill and to attempt to locate an area of the brain which may have been damaged after brain injury or neurological illness...
System (DWNAS) provides a standardized procedure for assessing an individual’s sensory
Sensory
Sensory may refer to:relating to senses or smellIn biology:* Sensory preference* Sensory system, part of the nervous system of organisms* Sensory neuron, nerve cell responsible for transmitting information about external stimuli...
, motor
Motor system
The motor system is the part of the central nervous system that is involved with movement. It consists of the pyramidal and extrapyramidal system....
, emotional, cognitive, and academic functioning for both English and Spanish speakers, based on the Cattell-Horn-Carroll Model (CHC). The instrument may be administered by psychologists
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
, that need not have neuropsychological backgrounds
Clinical neuropsychology
Clinical neuropsychology is a sub-field of psychology concerned with the cognitive function of individuals with neurological and psychiatric disorders. Neuropsychological assessment examines cognitive function in the broadest sense, including the behavioural, emotional, social and functional status...
.
The DWNB consists of the Dean-Woodcock Sensory-Motor Battery (DWSMB) (Dean & Woodcock, 2003c), the Dean-Woodcock Structured Neuropsychological Interview (Dean & Woodcock, 2003d), and the Dean-Woodcock Emotional Status Examination (Dean & Woodcock, 2003a). When the DWNAS is used with the Woodcock Johnson III (WJ III) (Woodcock, McGrew, & Mather, 2001), or the Bateria III Woodcock-Muñoz (Bateria III) (Muñoz-Sandoval, Woodcock, McGrew, & Mather, 2004), a comprehensive profile of an individual’s sensory, motor, emotional, cognitive, and academic functioning may be obtained. The DWNAS offers a neuropsychological interpretation of the WJ III and Bateria III. A fundamental element of the DWNAS is that it provides both a clinical neurological and empirical theoretical base (CHC) to assessment. The DWSMB is a battery of tests drawn primarily from the traditional neurological examination to provide comprehensive coverage of basic sensory, motor functions and sub-cortical functioning, most of which have pathognomonic neurological signs. The DWSMB is divided into two major sections—sensory and/or the Bateria III motor. Motor tests are predominantly meant to measure motor functioning at the cortical level. Multiple cognitive functions necessary in neuropsychological assessment are offered by the WJ-III or the Bateria III. The Dean-Woodcock Structured Interview and the Dean-Woodcock Emotional Status Examination provide pertinent information regarding the patient's history and current psychological and medical functioning. Further, they address the need in neuropsychological assessment to consider factors that may inhibit or facilitate a patient's performance.