Background and aim There is a growing awareness that people with aphasia (language problems) after a stroke often have difficulties with their short-term memory (STM). As a result, the explanation underlying aphasia has recently been seen as a language processing disorder, where multiple cognitive processes interact. To evaluate the cognitive processes underlying aphasia, there is a need for reliable and valid assessment tools. However, the quality of tests usually used to assess STM problems in aphasia patients is questioned because they are not specifically designed to be used in aphasia patients. This raises some concern, as impairments of STM can be predictive for the recovery and rehabilitation of aphasia patients. As an important exception, a recent study has developed a new English evaluation tool (i.e., The Temple Assessment of Language and (Verbal) Short-term Memory in Aphasia; TALSA) that examines language and STM aspects specifically developed for persons with aphasia. However, the existence of a Dutch evaluation tool specifically designed to assess language and STM problems in people with aphasia after a stroke is lacking. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to develop a Dutch clinical version of the TALSA battery that may lead to better diagnosis and treatment of STM problems in persons with aphasia. The development of the test focuses on its clinical feasibility (e.g. test duration, difficulty of the items and response modality). Pilot testing of the Dutch STM assessment instrument in the clinical and healthy population is very important to adapt the test where necessary. In addition, the quality of the test should also be carefully evaluated. Method The first step towards the development of a Dutch STM assessment instrument is the careful selection of the most crucial subtests of the original TALSA battery. Not all subtests will be selected due to the long testing time of the TALSA battery, and as mentioned earlier, the Dutch STM assessment tool focuses on clinical feasibility of the test. The second step is pilot testing the Dutch STM assessment instrument in persons with aphasia and healthy persons. Persons with aphasia will be recruited at the Stroke unit of Ghent University Hospital. All eligible patients will be asked to provide written informed consent to participate in this study. Three tests will be administered, namely the Oxford Cognitive Screen, the Token Test and the Dutch STM assessment tool. It is important that these tests are taken on the same day or on two consecutive days, depending on the circumstances (e.g. fatigue). The Token Test and Oxford Cognitive Screen provide a picture of the patient's cognitive profile. Throughout the process of pilot testing, the Dutch STM assessment tool will be adapted and improved where necessary. In order to verify or adjust the difficulty of the items, it is crucial that the STM assessment instrument is also tested on a small number of healthy control subjects (recruited via social media platforms).
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verbal short-term memory in poststroke aphasia
Timeframe: 2 hours