Sensitivity and specificity of Ankara University Cerebral Dominance Inventory in comparison with the Wada test

Abstract

We aimed to examine the sensitivity and specificity of the Ankara University Cerebral Dominance Inventory (AUCDI) in determining left cerebral dominance compared with the Wada test. The AUCDI and Wada test were applied to 49 patients referred to Ankara University for epilepsy surgery. Hand, foot and 'total' preference scores were specified according to the results of the inventory. Thirty-eight of the patients had left cerebral dominance and 11 had atypical cerebral dominance for language. 86 % of the patients were right-handed and 43 % were right-footed. When compared with the results of the Wada test, the sensitivity of the AUCDI for each 'total preference', and hand and foot preference was 90, 95 and 50 % and specificity was 46, 46 and 82 %, respectively. The percentage of right-footed patients was low when compared with the other studies. This difference might result from the method used for assessing foot preference by the actual demonstration of the task rather than just asking about the performance. The AUCDI was found to be sensitive in terms of 'total preference' and hand preference, and specific in terms of foot preference for determining the left hemisphere dominance in patients preferring the right side. It was a cheap and noninvasive alternative to the Wada test, appropriate for clinical bedside evaluation.