Modification and standardisation of Arabic version of the Comprehensive Aphasia Test

Abstract

Background: The Comprehensive Aphasia Test (CAT) is a new standardised test designed to assess a wide range of language functions in participants with acquired aphasia. In its present state, the CAT is not suitable to be used with Arabic-speaking participants due to language, cultural and regional differences.

Aims: The aim of this article is to present a modified and standardised version of the CAT in order to provide a thorough assessment of aphasia among Arabic-speaking aphasic participants and to target intervention towards the disability associated with it.

Methods and Procedures: The CAT was translated into Arabic and some subtests were modified to be socio-culturally suitable to the Egyptian population. The modified CAT was tested on a sample of 100 adult participants with aphasia due to stroke or post-traumatic damage attending the out-patients clinic of the Phoniatric Unit of Ain Shams University Hospitals and the Hearing and Speech Institute. A control group of 50 normal, adult, healthy volunteers was also tested.

Outcomes and Results: Test–retest reliability checks as well as diverse validity checks were undertaken and their findings showed that the modified CAT is psychometrically well constructed and reveals a high degree of reliability and validity.

Conclusions: The modified CAT provides an overview of the linguistic abilities and impairments of an aphasic person through a quick but comprehensive and standardised profile of language performance. Analyses showed the usefulness of the modified CAT battery as a reliable and valid tool for diagnosing aphasia and for targeting therapy towards specific goals.

Keywords:

• Comprehensive aphasia test
• Assessment of aphasia
• Diagnosis of aphasia.

Notes

The authors would like to express special thanks to David Howard, Kate Swinburn and Gillian Porter, the authors of the original CAT for providing consensus to translate it into Arabic language and modify it to suit the Arab world culture. This work would have never been accomplished without their support and encouragement.