Appropriate assessments

7.16 Where possible, assessments should be used that are appropriate to the languages/dialects and cultural backgrounds of each client..

Reference: Altman et al., 2012: Single-participant study; Paradis, 2011: Discussion paper; Penn & Beecham, 1992: Case study; Watson, 2000: Masters thesis

NHMRC level of Evidence: GPP

Rationale: Simply translating assessment tasks does not ensure the equivalence of linguistic difficulty, and may not capture the varied symptoms of aphasia across different languages (Paradis, 2011). For this reason, culturally and linguistically appropriate assessment tools should be used wherever possible – see also statements 7.10 and 7.13. 

Discourse sampling, when conducted well, may be a culturally appropriate assessment tool for exploring language use (Altman et al., 2012) and may provide insight into unique bi/multilingual communicative behaviours in their natural context.

Additionally, assessments of how the person with aphasia’s communication is perceived (by the person or their family, friends or carers), such as the American Speech and Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication Skills (Frattali et al., 1995) and the Communicative Effectiveness Index (Lomas et al., 1989), may be adapted for use (see for example Penn & Beecham, 1992; Watson, 2000).

References:

1. Altman, C., Goral, M., & Levy, E. S. (2012). Integrated narrative analysis in multilingual aphasia. Aphasiology, 26(8), 1029-1052.
2. Paradis, M. (2011). Principles underlying the Bilingual Aphasia Test (BAT) and its uses. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 25(6‐7), 427‐443. doi: 10.3109/02699206.2011.560326Parr, S., Byng, S., Gilpin, S., & Ireland, C. (1997). Talking about aphasia: Living with loss of language after Stroke. Oxford University Press
3. Penn, C., & Beecham, R. (1992). Discourse therapy in multilingual aphasia: a case study. Clinical Linguistics  & Phonetics, 6(1-2), 11-25. doi: doi:10.3109/02699209208985516
4. Watson, K. (2000). The use of the ASHA-FACS in a rehabiliation setting in South Africa. Unpublished Masters thesis. University of Wiwatersrand.