Examining for Aphasia Essay -- Language

Introduction Examining For Aphasia was created in 1954 by John Eisenson in New York (Eisenson, 1954). It was one of the first tests for assessing language impairment (Benson & Ardila, 1996) and provides a guided approach for evaluating language disturbances and other disturbances closely related to language function (Eisenson, 1954). The materials and procedures were developed originally for use with a group of patients in an army hospital who had aphasia and related disturbances (Eisenson, 1954, p. 32). Continued use of the original inventory resulted in refinements and improvement and testing of civilian patients has ‘shown the applicability of various parts of the test as well as of the examination as a whole’ (Eisenson, 1954, p. 32) Purpose The purpose of Examining for Aphasia (EFA) is to examine adolescents and adults whose language abilities have become impaired after normal language functioning had been established, with its main purpose being to ascertain the type and level of the language dysfunction (Eisenson, 1954). It aims to help the clinician discover what abilities remain, and to form the basis of a program of retraining. Eisenson (1954) states that results of the examination 'enable the clinician to obtain an overall view of the patient's strengths and weaknesses, as well as determine the 'level of ability within a given area of language function' (Browndyke, 2002). Construction The examination is divided into two main parts. The first includes items to test abilities and to reveal disturbances in the patient’s capacity to deal with concrete materials, visual representation, and symbols which are presented to the patient for simple recognition or for evaluations (Benson & Ardila, 1996); that is their ability ... ...yke, J. (2002). Aphasia Assessment Retrieved 9 May 2012, from http://www.neuropsychologycentral.com/interface/content/resources/page_material/resources_general_materials_pages/resources_document_pages/aphasia_assessment.pdf Eisenson, J. (1954). Examining for aphasia : a manual for the examination of aphasia and related disturbances. New York: Psychological Corporation. Kagan, A., Simmons-Mackie, N., Victor, J. C., & Aphasia Institute. (2010). Assessment for living with aphasia (pp. 1 instructional manual (26 p.), 25 record booklets (24 p.), 21 pictographic booklet (43 p. on easel), 21 rating scale card, 21 probe question card, 25 score sheets, and 21 instructional DVD). Toronto: Aphasia Institute. Skenes, L. L., & McCauley, R. J. (1985). Psychometric review of nine aphasia tests. Journal of Communication Disorders, 18(6), 461-474. doi: 10.1016/0021-9924(85)90033-4