Comprehensive aphasia test

The comprehensive aphasia test (CAT) was created by Kate Swinburn (from Connect: a charity for people with aphasia), Gillian Porter (an NHS therapist from Hertfordshire) and David Howard (a Research Development Professor). The CAT is a new test for people who have acquired aphasia, the impairment of language ability. The comprehensive assessment can be completed over one or two sessions. The test contains a cognitive screening, a language battery and a disability questionnaire. The authors of the comprehensive aphasia test take account of current linguistic and psychological theory and other variable that impact aphasic performance. The CAT was published in 2005 and was the first new aphasia test in English for 20 years. The test is designed to (1) screen for associated cognitive deficits,(2) assess language impairment in people with aphasia, (3) investigate the consequences of the aphasia on the individual's lifestyle and emotional well-being, and (4) monitor changes in the aphasia and its consequences over time.^{[1][2][3][4] [5][6]}

Comprehensive aphasia test

Parts of the test and subtests

The cognitive section assesses people's abilities across a wide range of tasks that can impact rehabilitation.

Forming the main body of the test, the language battery provides a profile of performance across all modalities of language production and comprehension.

The disability questionnaire explores the practical, psychological, and social impact of impairment from the perspective of the person living with aphasia. The disability questionnaire is optional.

There are 5 receptive subtests (3 auditory comprehension, 2 visual comprehension) and 16 expressive subtest (5 repetition, 3 naming, 4 reading, 4 writing) Neuropsychological deficits that could be associated with aphasia are tested in 6 subtests (line bisection, semantic memory, word fluency, recognition memory, gesture object use, arithmetic).

References

1. Bruce, C.; Edmundson, A. (2010). ""Letting the CAT out of the bag: A review of the Comprehensive Aphasia Test. Commentary on Howard, Swinburn, and Porter, "Putting the CAT out: What the Comprehensive Aphasia Test has to offer". Aphasiology. 24 (1): 79–93. doi:10.1080/02687030802453335. S2CID 144065963.
2. Howard, D.; Swinburn, K.; Porter, G (2004). Comprehensive Aphasia Test. Routledge.Psychology Press. ISBN 978-1-84169-379-8.
3. "Sorry! That Page Cannot be Found". Archived from the original on 2010-01-19.
4. Bruce, C.; Edmundson, A. (2010). "Letting the CAT out of the bag: A review of the Comprehensive Aphasia Test. Commentary on Howard, Swinburn, and Porter, oPutting the CAT out: What the Comprehensive Aphasia Test has to offero". Aphasiology. 24: 79–93. doi:10.1080/02687030802453335. S2CID 144065963.
5. Springer, L.; Mantey, S. (2010). ""The Comprehensive Aphasia Test: A review. Commentary on Howard, Swinburn, and Porter, "Putting the CAT out: What the Comprehensive Aphasia Test has to offer". Aphasiology. 24 (1): 75–78. doi:10.1080/02687030802453301. S2CID 143406740.
6. c. Transforming clinical practice in aphasia: The Comprehensive Aphasia Test (CAT). (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2017, from http://impact.ref.ac.uk/CaseStudies/CaseStudy.aspx?Id=21714