Verbal fluency tests: Developing a new model of administration and scoring for Spanish language

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Linguistics

Background:

• Verbal fluency tests (VFT) are crucial for assessing cognitive function.
• Current normative studies exhibit significant variability in VFT administration and scoring.
• Lack of standardized protocols hinders cross-cultural comparisons and clinical utility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review administration and scoring criteria in normative VFT studies.
• To propose a novel, standardized model for VFT administration and scoring.
• To adapt VFT protocols for optimal use with Spanish-speaking populations.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across four major databases (Dialnet, ProQuest, Science Direct, PubMed).
• 47 studies published between 2000-2015, in English or Spanish, using healthy populations were included.
• Included studies provided normative data for phonological, semantic, or action VFT.

Main Results:

• Out of 2087 retrieved citations, 47 studies met the inclusion criteria.
• The majority of reviewed VFT studies originated from the USA.
• Significant discrepancies were found in the reporting of administration instructions (12 studies) and scoring guidelines (23 studies).

Conclusions:

• There is a lack of consensus on VFT administration and scoring methods.
• A new, standardized method for VFT administration and scoring is proposed.
• The proposed guidelines aim to enhance the reliability and applicability of VFT in Spanish-speaking countries.