A non-verbal performance test of intelligence, useful with language and hearing impaired individuals

S.C. Kohs

• Age Range: Developmental age 3-19 years
• Time: Up to 40 minutes, individual administration

The Kohs Block Design Tests, published by Stoelting, are performance tests, standardized to measure intelligence for individuals with developmental ages 3-19. Its easy-to-give-and-understand instructions were designed to be given in pantomime, so the tests are especially valuable for testing those with language and hearing handicaps.  In addition, the Kohs Block Design Test has been used extensively in research, when an efficient measure of executive functioning skills is desired that is relatively language free.

The Kohs is particularly suited for use with disadvantaged and non-English speaking individuals, whose language deficits may mask underlying cognitive potential. Block design tests are significantly less affected by school training than Binet, yet possess a high degree of correlation and reliability. The test, which has shown a universal appeal to children, and even adults, consists of 16 colored cubes and 17 cards with colored designs, which the subject is to duplicate.

Complete Kohs Blocks Design Test includes Cubes, Cards, Manual and 50 Record Blanks.

Kohs Block Design Research

Arja, S. K., Feng, Z., Chen, Z., Caprihan, A., Kiehl, K. A., Adali, T., & Calhoun, V. D. (2010). Changes in fMRI magnitude data and phase data observed in block-design and event-related tasks. NeuroImage, 49(4), 3149-3160.

• Use of Kohs in brain imaging

Bagga, D., Modi, S., Poonia, M., Kaur, P., Bhattacharya, D., Garg, M. L., . . . Singh, N. (2015). T2 relaxation time alterations underlying neurocognitive deficits in alcohol-use disorders (AUD) in an indian population: A combined conventional ROI and voxel-based relaxometry analysis. Alcohol, 49(7), 639-646.

• Using Kohs to assess effects of longterm alcohol use on cognitive functioning
  

Janes, J. (1976). The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind. Boston/New York: First Mariner Books. (118–119).

• Describes difficulties those with right-hemisphere damage have with the Kohs Task

Miller, J. C., Ruthig, J. C., Bradley, A. R., Wise, R. A., Pedersen, H. A., & Ellison, J. M. (2009). Learning effects in the block design task: A stimulus parameter-based approach. Psychological Assessment, 21(4), 570-577.

• Describes strategies as measured with the Kohs Task
  

Rozencwajg, P. & Corroyer, D. (2001). Strategy development in a block design test. Intelligence, 30, 1-25.

• Shows that block design problem-solving changes with development

Vega-Dienstmaier, J., Salinas-Piélago, J. E., Gutiérrez-Campos, M.,del Rosario, Mandamiento-Ayquipa, R., Yara-Hokama, M., Ponce-Canchihuamán, J., & Castro-Morales, J. (2006). Lead levels and cognitive abilities in peruvian children. Revista Brasileira De Psiquiatria, 28(1), 33-39.

• Exposure to lead resulted in lower scores on Kohs Block Test

Welmer, A., Arbin, M. v., Murray, V., Holmqvist, L. W., & Sommerfeld, D. K. (2007). Determinants of mobility and self-care in older people with stroke: Importance of somatosensory and perceptual functions. Physical Therapy, 87(12), 1633-41.

• Those who experienced strokes had lower scores on Kohs Block Design Test

Wetherell, J. L., Reynolds, C. A., Gatz, M., & Pedersen, N. L. (2002). Anxiety, cognitive performance, and cognitive decline in normal aging. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 57(3), P246-P255.

• Using the Kohs to investigate the effects of aging on cognitive performance, considered with other factors