A-196 BVRT Copy and Memory Trial Omission Errors Are Associated With Working Memory and Auditory Comprehension Deficits

Abstract

Abstract Objective The goal of this study is to examine the cognitive factors that account for omission errors on the Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT) copy and memory trials using factorial indices based on raw subtest scores of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III) and the Multilingual Aphasia Examination (MAE). Method Participants were referred for assessment at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. One hundred and forty-three participants were sampled. BVRT omission error scores for the copy and memory trials were factor analyzed with age, education level, WAIS-III Digit Span Forward (DSpF), and Letter-Number Sequencing (LNS). These variables were refactored with the spoken language components of the MAE (naming, repetition, verbal fluency, and auditory comprehension). Results BVRT copy and memory omission scores were factorially grouped with age and inversely correlated with LNS. A second factor was composed of positive loadings on DSpF, LNS, and education. The BVRT Copy-and-Memory-Omissions-Age-LNS component was inversely and specifically related to the MAE measure of auditory comprehension. The Digit Span Forward-LNS-Education variable loaded strongly on the MAE Repetition component and secondarily on the MAE Verbal Fluency and Naming components. Conclusions BVRT copy and memory trial omission errors are strongly and specifically related to failure of auditory comprehension. Errors of this type are not related to the other three components of spoken language.