Validity and features of spontaneous speech in acute aphasia as evaluated with the Brief Aphasia Evaluation: Is fluent aphasia more severe than nonfluent aphasia?

NORA SILVANA VIGLIECCA

CoDAS

Sociedad Brasilera de Fonoaudiologia

Lugar: San Pablo; Año: 2019

2317-1782

ABSTRACT Purpose: To explore the relationship between the two components of spontaneous speech in the Brief Aphasia Evaluation (BAE) and the rest of the scale represented by its three main factors: The Expression, Comprehension, and Complementary factors. Methods: BAE has proven validity and reliability. The evaluation of spontaneous speech in this scale comprises two components: Performance Rank (score: 0-3) and Type of Disorder (Fluency [F], Content [C], or Mixed [FC]) when rank < 3. Sixty-seven patients with left brain damage and 30 demographically matched healthy participants (HP) were studied. It was analyzed the correlation between Performance Rank and the three BAE factors and, recoding 3 as 0 and < 3 as 1, the sensitivity/specificity of this component for each factor. The effect of Type of Disorder on the three factors was analyzed. Results: 1) Performance Rank: Correlations of 0.84 (Expression), 0.81 (Comprehension), and 0.76 (Complementary) were observed, with a sensitivity and specificity ≥ 78% for any factor; 2) Type of Disorder: The performance significantly decreased from FC to C and from C to F in Expression (FC < C < F), from FC to C and from FC to F also in Comprehension and Complementary, from patients with any type of disorder to HP. Conclusion: Performance Rank was a relevant indicator of aphasia by its consistency with valid and comprehensive dimensions of acute language impairments. A degree difference between F and C was observed, being F a milder disorder; i.e., fluency problems were less severe than retrieval or anomia ones. RESUMEN Objetivo: Explorar la relación entre los dos componentes del habla espontánea en la Evaluación Breve de la Afasia (EBA) y el resto de la escala, representada por sus tres factores principales: Expresión, Comprensión y Complementario. Método: EBA ha demostrado validez y confiabilidad. La evaluación del habla espontánea consta de dos componentes: Grado de Desempeño (puntuación: 0-3) y Tipo de Trastorno (Fluidez (F), Contenido(C), o Mixto (FC)) cuando grado < 3. Se estudiaron 67 pacientes con lesión cerebral izquierda y 30 participantes sanos (PS), emparejados demográficamente. Se analizó la correlación entre Grado de Desempeño y los tres factores de EBA y, recodificando 3 como 0 y