If a child mishears a word during the similarities subtest, what should the examiner do?

Listening carefully is crucial in the context of administering the similarities subtest. This subtest assesses a child's verbal reasoning and comprehension abilities. If a child mishears a word, the examiner's attention to the child's interpretation is important because it allows for a better understanding of what the child is trying to convey.

By listening carefully, the examiner can gauge whether the mishearing affects the child's ability to respond accurately, and it gives the examiner the chance to clarify or gently redirect the conversation if necessary. This approach maintains the flow of testing while ensuring that the child feels supported and understood. It's essential for examiners to remain attentive to verbal cues, as they can provide valuable insights into the child's cognitive and language processing abilities during the assessment.

In contrast, ignoring the mishearing may lead to inaccurate assessments, and providing the answer could undermine the child's opportunity to express their thoughts. Asking the child to repeat might further confuse them if they don’t fully understand what was said, so listening becomes the most effective strategy in this scenario.