The Shewan Spontaneous Language Analysis (SSLA) system for aphasic adults: description, reliability, and validity

The Shewan Spontaneous Language Analysis (SSLA) system is designed to describe and quantify aphasic subjects' connected language using a picture description task. The 12 SSLA variables measure the three components of the linguistic system and additional general parameters of verbal output. Intrajudge, interjudge, and test-retest reliability are within acceptable psychometric standards. The SSLA correlates significantly with clinical judgments of the severity of connected language impairment. The system differentiates aphasic from normal performance, using both clinical and statistical methods. SSLA performance data for a group of aphasic subjects and a group of normal controls will be presented.