Gloriajean L. Wallace

Cognitive-linguistic assessment of individuals with multiple sclerosis

Four individuals diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis (MS) and four matched controls were assessed with the Arizona Battery for Communication Disorders (ABCD), a standardized battery of memory and cognitive-linguistic tasks. Subjects with MS and controls performed in an equivalent or nearly equivalent fashion for nine of the ABCD subtests. For five of the subtests (Object Description, Generative Naming, Concept Definition, Generative Writing, and Picture Description), subjects with MS performed substantially lower than the control subjects. Results of this pilot study suggest that portions of the ABCD may be useful in identifying profiles of memory, and cognitive-linguistic impairment among individuals with multiple sclerosis. Further research using a larger sampling of individuals with MS is needed to more fully assess the usefulness of the ABCD with this population.

Assessment of oral peripheral structure and function in normal aging individuals with the Frenchay

This research was designed to investigate the integrity of oral motor structure and function in normal aging individuals using the Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment (FDA). Subjects were 5 females and 5 males in each of 4 age categories (50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80-89). Two individuals, trained in the use of the FDA, administered this procedure to the 40 subjects. Test-retest reliability measures (done one week apart) for eight of the subjects revealed no change from time 1 to time 2. Minimal reduced functioning for some FDA tasks, particularly the Laryngeal Subtest and the Tongue Subtest, were noted with increasing age.