Cross-cultural and Neuropsychological Assessment

Question 1

Language and Assessment

Answer 1

Examiner and examinee must have the same language so the test can be administered and the conclusions drawn are accurate and valid. Translators don’t always help (word meaning gets lost, difficulty changes, translator may change answer of give hints).

Question 2

Non-verbal Communication and Assessment

Answer 2

Facial expression, hand signals, body position, eye contact and paralinguistic can reflect cultural differences which the examiner must consider when interpreting results.

Question 3

Indigenous Assessment

Answer 3

Language, education and cultural differences can impact on the assessment of indigenous populations. Standard tests lack reliable and valid norms so cannot be used.

Question 4

Kimberly Indigenous Cognitive Assessment

Answer 4

Used to measure cognitive impairment in elderly Aboriginals from the Kimberly region who have limited English. Three sections (informant report, assessment of function (ADLs) and cognitive assessment based on culturally appropriate items).

Question 5

Psychometrics of KICA

Answer 5

Good reliability and validity when used with elderly from the Kimberly region only. Test can be translated into any of the languages used across the Kimberly and remain useful.

Question 6

Neuropsychological Assessment

Answer 6

Draw inferences about the structural and functional characteristics of the brain by revaluation behaviour in stimulus-response situations.

Question 7

Types of Neuropsychological Tests

Answer 7

Similarities and Matrices subtests of WAIS-IV, colour form sort test, tower of Hanoi, Stroop test, trail making, field sort and Boston naming test.

Question 8

Visual Disability Assessment

Answer 8

Three levels of impairment (vision is of no practical use in test, can handle large objects but not text in tests and can read enlarged text in tests). Test selection is the biggest issue because visual tests cannot be used.

Question 9

Hearing Disability Assessment

Answer 9

Disability varies according to how much hearing is lots, the age of onset and language/social skills prior to impairment. Translating a test with sign language is usually ok.

Question 10

Motor Disability Assessment

Answer 10

May include paralysis, tremors, tics, involuntary movements, gaze or gait disorders and motor speech problems. Can avoid motor components of tests or administer the test untimed, but this reduces the reliability and validity of the test.

Question 11

Intellectual Disability

Answer 11

Mild, moderate, severe and profound levels of disability. Outcome ranges from normal but requiring help during times of stress (mild) to needing constant care (profound). Diagnosis requires IQ and adaptive behaviour assessments.