[Digit span, automatic speech and orientation: amplified norms of the Barcelona Test]

Digit span, automatic speech and orientation are screening tests of interest in neurology due to their high sensitivity in cerebral pathologies and easy applicability. These tasks assess attention, concentration, mental control, orientation and short-term memory.

To analyze the impact of age and education on the results of the following subtest included in the Barcelona Test: digit span, automatic speech and orientation.

275 normal subjects were evaluated. Mean (SD) age: 52 (17.7), range (18-19). Mean education: 9 (5.5) years, range (0-25). Subjects were stratified into 7 groups by age and education. Nine items of Barcelona Test were used: digits span forward and backward, automatic speech, forward and backward, with and without time, and person, time and place orientation.

Statistical description, parametric and non parametric test. The Kruskal Wallis test was used, showing that aged and education are significant difference in the automatic speech forward or backward, with or without time, while it did not showed a significant difference in the different groups in the orientation tests. Analysis of Variance for group of age and education showed significant differences in the digit span forward and backward (F = 19.92; p < 0.001; F = 18.44, p < 0.001), respectively.

Both age (inversely) and education (directly) influenced on the scores of the analyzed items, except to person, place and time orientation that are not affected for them.