Screening for Language Disorders in Stroke: German Validation of the Language Screening Test (LAST).

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psycholinguistics
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Aphasia screening in acute stroke is vital for early language therapy initiation.
• The French Language Screening Test (LAST) is a validated, rapid screening tool.
• Developing and validating German versions of the LAST is essential for German-speaking populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate two parallel German versions of the Language Screening Test (LAST).
• To ensure the German LAST versions are equivalent, internally consistent, and externally valid.

Main Methods:

• Translation and adaptation of the French LAST into German, maintaining original psycholinguistic criteria.
• Testing 101 native German-speaking stroke patients.
• Validation through analysis of German version equivalence, internal consistency (Cronbach's α), and external validity against the Token Test.

Main Results:

• High equivalence between the two German LAST versions (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient = 0.91).
• Acceptable internal structure (Cronbach's α = 0.74).
• Strong external validity demonstrated by significant correlation with the Token Test (r = 0.74, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

• The German Language Screening Test (LAST), in its two parallel versions, is a newly developed and validated instrument.
• This tool is suitable for language screening in acute stroke patients in German-speaking regions.