Practice Guidelines for Standardized Assessment for Persons With Traumatic Brain Injury
Journal of Medical Speech-Language Pathology
Turkstra, L., Ylvisaker, M., et al. (2005).
Journal of Medical Speech-Language Pathology , 13(2), ix-xxviii.
This guideline provides recommendations for the evaluation of children, adolescents, and adults with cognitive-communicative disorders following traumatic brain injury (TBI) using standardized assessment measures. The target audience of this guideline is speech-language pathologists and other professionals who work with this population. The review is part of an Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences Practice Guideline for the management of TBI.
Academy of Neurologic Commmunication Disorders and Sciences
<p>This guideline was reviewed with several supporting documents available at the <a href="http://www.ancds.org/evidence-based-clinical-research#TBI" title="http://www.ancds.org/evidence-based-clinical-research#TBI" class="ApplyClass">Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences</a> webpage. The following reports are of particular relevance to this guideline:</p><ul> <li>Turkstra, L., Ylvisaker, M., et al. (2003). <em>Standardized Assessment for Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury: Technical Report. </em>Unpublished Manuscript. Retrieved from <a href="http://www.ancds.org/assets/docs/EBP/cogcomstandardized_tech_report.pdf" title="http://www.ancds.org/assets/docs/EBP/cogcomstandardized_tech_report.pdf" class="ApplyClass">http://www.ancds.org</a>.</li> <li>Turkstra, L. Coelho, C. & Ylvisaker, M. (2005). <em>The Use of Standardized Tests for Individuals with Cognitive-Communication Disorders.</em> Retrieved from <a href="http://www.ancds.org/assets/docs/EBP/turkstra_standardized_tests_for_individuals.pdf" title="ancds.org" class="ApplyClass">http://www.ancds.org</a>.</li></ul>
<div>"There is a lack of empirical evidence to support the use of many standardized, norm-referenced tests for individuals with cognitive-communication disorders after TBI...Most of the tests recommended by publishers, distributors, and clinicians were not developed for persons with TBI and did not address TBI in their development or standardization" (p. xxx). Therefore speech-language pathologists should use caution when using most standardized assessment measures to evaluate cognitive-communication disorders for this population (Practice Option).</div>
<div>Speech-language pathologists should receive appropriate training pertaining to the administration of standardized cognitive tests and should integrate their cognitive-communication assessments with those of other professionals whose purview includes cognitive assessment (Practice Option).</div>
<div>Based on expert opinion, the authors conclude that "standardized testing must be considered within the broader framework that considers evaluation of the person's pre-injury characteristics, stage of development and recovery, communication-related demands of personally meaningful everyday activities and life and communication contexts" (Practice Option; p. xxxii).</div>
<p>The following standardized norm-referenced tests "met the majority of the stated criteria for reliability, validity, and inclusion of individuals with TBI in the test design and standardization sample" (p. xxxi):</p>
<ul>
<li>The American Speech-Language Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication Skills in Adults;</li>
<li>Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function*;</li>
<li>Communication Activities of Daily Living, 2nd Edition;</li>
<li>Functional Independence Measure;</li>
<li>Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status;</li>
<li>Test of Language Competence-Extended*; and</li>
<li>Western Aphasia Battery (Practice Option)</li>
</ul>
<p>*Test designed to evaluation deficits in pediatric population.</p>
