C-12the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery Naming Test Spanish Translation and Validation: Pilot Test Results

Abstract

Objective: The incidence and prevalence of dementia were higher in Latinos and blacks than in non-Latino whites in a study completed in 1999 (Gurland et al., 1990). Additionally, reports show growth within the Hispanic or Latino population, and an increase in bilingualism in the USA (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010b). Despite demographic and cultural shifts, few measures of language functioning for Spanish speakers are available to providers. The translation and validation of the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB) naming test is an attempt at improving current methods for assessing lexical retrieval deficits in U.S. Spanish/English bilingual population. Method: Initial translation, back-translation, committee review, and pilot testing were conducted. Pilot testing included a neuromedical questionnaire, Short Acculturation Scale (SAS), Spanish Word Accentuation Test (WAT), and Spanish NAB naming test; inclusion criteria for subjects (n = 5) were age <55, Spanish language proficiency, and no history of neurological abnormality. Results: Participants were diverse in country of origin (Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras), time in the USA (∼ 2–15 years), years of education (8–20 years), acculturation scores (range: 21–33, M = 28, SD = 4.89), and performance on the WAT (range: 9–32, M = 25, SD = 10.34). Of 31 translated test items, 14 items received different than expected responses from one or more participants. Conclusion: Findings support the need for translation refinement, as more than one Spanish name for stimuli presented may be appropriate and commonly used. Country of origin, education, and acculturation variables also appear to impact test performance. Field testing (n = 25) is underway to explore heterogeneity of responses demonstrated in the pilot study.