Examination of the reliability and validity of the NAB Naming Test in a diverse clinical sample

Abstract

Objective: The Boston Naming Test, Second Edition (BNT-2) and the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB) Naming Test are common measures to assess visual confrontation naming ability. The comparably newer NAB Naming Test is a potential alternative to the BNT-2, given the latter’s history of criticism. A recent psychometric investigation of the NAB Naming Test demonstrated sufficient reliability and validity in a large clinical sample; however, their study was limited by a lack of ethnic, racial, and language diversity, all of which can impact scores on naming tests.

Method: The present study examined convergent and discriminant validity and internal consistency of the NAB Naming Test in a diverse clinical sample comprised of 225 veterans (87.6% men, 51.1% White/Caucasian, 29.3% bilingual, 64.0% with cognitive impairment). All but three participants identified as White/Caucasian, Hispanic/Latino or Black/African American. These psychometric properties were examined for the overall sample and for monolingual (English) and bilingual (English/Spanish) participants separately.

Results: As expected, the NAB Naming Test demonstrated sufficient internal consistency and a negatively skewed distribution for the overall sample and monolingual and bilingual participants. Evidence for adequate convergent and discriminative validity was also established for monolingual and bilingual participants separately.

Conclusion: In a diverse clinical sample with differing levels of self-reported language status, the NAB Naming Test demonstrated adequate psychometric properties. Although it represents a viable option in neuropsychological practice, continued awareness of patient-specific factors that could impact performance is recommended.

Keywords:

• NAB Naming Test
• Boston Naming Test
• validity
• reliability
• bilingualism

Acknowledgements

This material is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the South Texas Veteran Health Care System (STVHCS) in San Antonio, TX. The contents do not represent the views of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government. We acknowledge the contribution of the staff, trainees, and technicians who have contributed and the veterans who agreed to have their information included in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.