Translation and Clinical Implementation of a Test of Language and Short-term Memory in Aphasia

Translation and Clinical Implementation of a Test for Language and Short-term Memory in Aphasia

This project aims to develop a clinically feasible version of a laboratory-developed assessment battery for language and verbal short-term memory difficulties in aphasia.

Over five years, we will develop a clinically feasible test that can be used to assess in-depth the language and verbal short-term memory abilities of individuals with aphasia (Called the TALSA - Temple Assessment of Language and Short-term memory in Aphasia. Based on a test that we have developed and tested over the past decade, we will create a shorter version that can be used by clinicians in a rehabilitation setting. The data to support this development will come from two sources: (1) clinicians in rehabilitation facilities who will use the new clinical test and provide feedback on the test (administration, value etc) and (2) people with aphasia who will be administered the longer version to help us identify the best test items in the laboratory version of the TALSA to be carried over to the shorter clinical version.

We are recruiting individuals with aphasia as well as people without aphasia (to serve as controls) to help with development of this assessment battery. The battery consists of between 15 and 20 subtests that assess many aspects of language and verbal short-term memory.

Inclusion Criteria:

• . single or multiple left hemisphere lesions
• at least one year post-stroke.
• high-school educated
• negative histories for mental illness and alcohol/substance abuse.
• passed an audiometric pure-tone, air conduction screening at 25 dB HL at 1K, 2K and 4K Hz for at least one ear.

Exclusion Criteria:

English as a second language Right hemisphere stroke Less than 6 months post-onset of stroke.