Comparison of impairment and disability measures for assessing severity of, and improvement in, aphasia

Abstract

The relationship between impairment and disability measures was examined for assessing initial severity of, and change in, aphasia. Twenty two aphasic adults were administered three aphasia tests at two points in time. Videotaped speech samples were collected and scored using Correct Information Unit and Main Concept analyses. Ten normal listeners viewed randomized, paired pre and post samples to provide a social judgement of change. Most impairment measures were significantly related, and most predicted disability scores. Change on most impairment measures was not related, and change on only one impairment measure predicted change in disability. Three of the connected speech measures predicted listener judgements. Thus, some redundancy was observed among measures in the ability to determine severity and measure change, but the results do not support one measure as an adequate replacement for another. Moreover, the relationship between change on the standardized impairment and disability measures and listener perception of change was, at best, moderate.