Standardizing Assessment of Spoken Discourse in Aphasia: A Working Group With Deliverables

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Aphasia spoken discourse literature lacks standardized measures, methods, and analyses, hindering study comparison and replication.
• Collecting test-retest data for spoken discourse outcomes is challenging due to funding and time constraints.
• Significant gaps exist in methodology, analysis, reporting, and psychometric data for spoken discourse in aphasia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the lack of standardization in spoken discourse collection, analysis, and reporting in aphasia.
• To develop recommendations for field-wide standards based on an international survey and systematic literature review.
• To create a database of test-retest spoken discourse data for individuals with and without aphasia.

Main Methods:

• Conducted an international survey of clinicians and researchers on aphasia assessment and rehabilitation procedures (September-November 2019).
• Initiated a multisite endeavor to collect test-retest spoken discourse data from individuals with and without aphasia.
• Planned for open curation of transcribed and analyzed data from the test-retest database.

Main Results:

• Survey results will be published to inform recommended standards for spoken discourse collection, analysis, and reporting in aphasia.
• A comprehensive database of test-retest spoken discourse data will be established.
• The working group will propose recommendations for standardization, mirroring practices in related scientific disciplines.

Conclusions:

• The working group aims to establish field-wide standards for spoken discourse outcomes in aphasia research and practice.
• The created database will facilitate the identification of psychometrically sound outcome measures and norms.
• These standards and measures will enhance the assessment of spoken discourse abilities in individuals with aphasia.