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{{Short description|A comprehensive assessment tool for aphasia}}
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'''Western Aphasia Battery''' ('''WAB''') is an instrument for assessing the language function of adults with suspected neurological disorders as a result of a [[stroke]], head injury, or [[dementia]]. There is an updated version, the Western Aphasia Battery-Revised (WAB-R).<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=The Western Aphasia Battery-Revised|last=Kertesz|first=Andrew|publisher=Grune & Stratton|year=2007|isbn=|location=New York|pages=|quote=|via=}}</ref> It helps discern the presence, degree, and type of [[aphasia]]. It also measures how the patient performed on the test to provide a baseline so they can detect changes throughout their time in therapy. This also allows to see the patient's language strengths and weaknesses so that they can figure out what to treat, and lastly, it can infer the location of the lesion that caused aphasia.<ref name="sublett k">{{cite web |url=https://prezi.com/b9q2fcepzdjw/copy-of-western-aphasia-battery-revised/|title=Copy of Western Aphasia Battery-Revised|last=Sublett |first=Katie|date= October 16, 2013 |publisher= Prezi Inc|access-date= November 14, 2015}}</ref> Another such test is the [[Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination]]. The WAB targets English speaking adults and teens with a neurological disorder between the ages of 18 and 89 years old. The WAB tests both linguistic and non linguistic skills. The linguistic skills assessed include, speech, fluency, auditory comprehension, reading and writing. The nonlinguistic skills tested include drawing, calculation, block design and apraxia.
The '''Western Aphasia Battery''' (WAB) is a widely used diagnostic tool designed to assess the presence, severity, and type of [[aphasia]] in individuals who have experienced brain damage, typically due to [[stroke]] or [[traumatic brain injury]]. The WAB provides a comprehensive evaluation of language function and helps in planning appropriate therapeutic interventions.


The aphasia quotient (AQ) is the summary score that indicates overall severity of language impairment. The WAB–R, a full battery of 8 subtests (32 short tasks), maintains the structure and overall content and clinical value of the current measure while creating these improvements:<ref name=":0" />
==Overview==
The Western Aphasia Battery was developed by Dr. Andrew Kertesz in the 1970s. It is designed to evaluate a range of language skills and cognitive functions, providing a detailed profile of an individual's language abilities. The WAB is particularly useful in distinguishing between different types of aphasia, such as [[Broca's aphasia]], [[Wernicke's aphasia]], and [[global aphasia]].


* Two new supplementary tasks (reading and writing of irregular and non-words) will aid the clinician in distinguishing between surface, deep (phonological), and visual dyslexia.
==Components==
* Revision of approximately 15 items
The WAB consists of several subtests that assess various aspects of language and cognitive function:
* Bedside WAB–R – provides a quick look at patient's functioning
* Examiner's manual with technical/psychometric properties information, test interpretation relevant to aphasic populations, historical evidence of reliability and validity, and information about the unique aspects of assessing the language ability of individuals with dementia
* Spiral-bound stimulus book replacing loose stimulus cards
* Revised administration directions – more user-friendly with directions to the examinee for all subtests
* Expanded scoring guidelines for clarity
* It helps classification of Aphasia into different types.


==Scoring==
* '''Spontaneous Speech''': This subtest evaluates the fluency, grammatical structure, and content of spontaneous speech. It involves tasks such as describing a picture or engaging in conversation.
Criterion cut scores:


* Aphasia Quotient
* '''Auditory Verbal Comprehension''': This component assesses the ability to understand spoken language. It includes tasks such as following commands and answering yes/no questions.
* Cortical Quotient
* Auditory Comprehension Quotient
* Oral Expression Quotient
* Reading Quotient
* Writing Quotient
* Bedside WAB–R scores


The Western Aphasia Battery (Shewan & Kertesz, 1980) was designed to provide a means of evaluating the major clinical aspects of language function: content, fluency, auditory comprehension, repetition and naming plus reading, writing and calculation. In addition to the nonverbal skills of drawing, block design and praxis are evaluated and Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices test is usually administered as well. The scoring provides two main totals, in addition to the subscale scores. These are the Aphasia Quotient (AQ) score and Cortical Quotient (CQ) score. AQ can essentially be thought of as a measure of language ability, whilst CQ is a more general measure of intellectual ability and includes all the subscales. Administration of the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) yields a total score termed the Aphasia Quotient (AQ), which is said to reflect the severity of the spoken language deficit in aphasia. This score is a weighted composite of performance on 10 separate WAB subtests. Scores rate severity as follows: 0-25 is very severe, 26-50 is severe, 51-75 is moderate, and 76–above is mild.<ref>Western Aphasia Battery-Revised. (n.d.). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from http://www.pearsonclinical.com/language/products/100000194/ western-aphasia- batteryrevised.html
* '''Repetition''': This subtest measures the ability to repeat words, phrases, and sentences of increasing complexity.
</ref>


The Western Aphasia Battery has high validity and reliability.  These measures include high test-retest reliability, inter and intra-judge reliability, face and content validity, and construct validity.<ref>Shewan & Kertesz (1980) Reliability and Validity Characteristics of the Western Aphasia Battery. ''Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders.'' 45, 309-324.</ref> High scores correlate with good functional communication skills in stroke patients with aphasia.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bakheit|first=AMO|last2=Carrington|first2=S|last3=Griffiths|first3=S|last4=Searle|first4=K|title=High scores on the Western Aphasia Battery correlate with good functional communication skills (as measured with the Communicative Effectiveness Index) in aphasic stroke patients|journal=Disability and Rehabilitation|volume=27|issue=6|pages=287–291|doi=10.1080/09638280400009006}}</ref>
* '''Naming and Word Finding''': This section evaluates the ability to name objects, actions, and colors, as well as the ability to generate words in response to specific cues.


citation: Andrew Kertesz (1979) Aphasia and associated disorders: taxonomy, localization, and recovery.  Grune & Stratton, Orlando, Florida.
* '''Reading''': The reading subtest assesses the ability to read words, sentences, and paragraphs aloud and to comprehend written material.
<Kertesz, A. (1979). Western aphasia battery- revised: Examiner's manual. San Antonio, TX: Pearson>


{{cite web |url=https://prezi.com/b9q2fcepzdjw/copy-of-western-aphasia-battery-revised/|title=Copy of Western Aphasia Battery-Revised|last=Sublett |first=Katie|date= October 16, 2013 |publisher= Prezi Inc|access-date= November 14, 2015}}
* '''Writing''': This component evaluates the ability to write words, sentences, and dictated material.


==References==
* '''Apraxia''': The WAB also includes tasks to assess [[apraxia]], which is the difficulty in performing purposeful movements despite having the desire and physical ability to perform them.
{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Neurology]]
* '''Constructional, Visuospatial, and Calculation Tasks''': These tasks assess non-verbal cognitive functions, including the ability to copy drawings, solve mathematical problems, and understand spatial relationships.
{{stb}}
 
{{No image}}
==Scoring and Interpretation==
The WAB provides a comprehensive score known as the Aphasia Quotient (AQ), which quantifies the severity of aphasia. The AQ is derived from the scores of the language subtests and ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better language function. The WAB also provides a Cortical Quotient (CQ) that includes both language and non-language cognitive functions.
 
The results of the WAB help clinicians determine the type of aphasia and guide the development of individualized treatment plans. The test is typically administered by a [[speech-language pathologist]] and takes approximately 1 to 2 hours to complete.
 
==Applications==
The Western Aphasia Battery is used in various clinical settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and private practices. It is an essential tool for diagnosing aphasia, monitoring progress during rehabilitation, and conducting research on language disorders.
 
==Related pages==
* [[Aphasia]]
* [[Broca's aphasia]]
* [[Wernicke's aphasia]]
* [[Global aphasia]]
* [[Speech-language pathology]]
 
[[Category:Aphasia]]
[[Category:Neuropsychological tests]]
[[Category:Speech and language pathology]]

Latest revision as of 19:23, 22 March 2025

A comprehensive assessment tool for aphasia


The Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) is a widely used diagnostic tool designed to assess the presence, severity, and type of aphasia in individuals who have experienced brain damage, typically due to stroke or traumatic brain injury. The WAB provides a comprehensive evaluation of language function and helps in planning appropriate therapeutic interventions.

Overview[edit]

The Western Aphasia Battery was developed by Dr. Andrew Kertesz in the 1970s. It is designed to evaluate a range of language skills and cognitive functions, providing a detailed profile of an individual's language abilities. The WAB is particularly useful in distinguishing between different types of aphasia, such as Broca's aphasia, Wernicke's aphasia, and global aphasia.

Components[edit]

The WAB consists of several subtests that assess various aspects of language and cognitive function:

  • Spontaneous Speech: This subtest evaluates the fluency, grammatical structure, and content of spontaneous speech. It involves tasks such as describing a picture or engaging in conversation.
  • Auditory Verbal Comprehension: This component assesses the ability to understand spoken language. It includes tasks such as following commands and answering yes/no questions.
  • Repetition: This subtest measures the ability to repeat words, phrases, and sentences of increasing complexity.
  • Naming and Word Finding: This section evaluates the ability to name objects, actions, and colors, as well as the ability to generate words in response to specific cues.
  • Reading: The reading subtest assesses the ability to read words, sentences, and paragraphs aloud and to comprehend written material.
  • Writing: This component evaluates the ability to write words, sentences, and dictated material.
  • Apraxia: The WAB also includes tasks to assess apraxia, which is the difficulty in performing purposeful movements despite having the desire and physical ability to perform them.
  • Constructional, Visuospatial, and Calculation Tasks: These tasks assess non-verbal cognitive functions, including the ability to copy drawings, solve mathematical problems, and understand spatial relationships.

Scoring and Interpretation[edit]

The WAB provides a comprehensive score known as the Aphasia Quotient (AQ), which quantifies the severity of aphasia. The AQ is derived from the scores of the language subtests and ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better language function. The WAB also provides a Cortical Quotient (CQ) that includes both language and non-language cognitive functions.

The results of the WAB help clinicians determine the type of aphasia and guide the development of individualized treatment plans. The test is typically administered by a speech-language pathologist and takes approximately 1 to 2 hours to complete.

Applications[edit]

The Western Aphasia Battery is used in various clinical settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and private practices. It is an essential tool for diagnosing aphasia, monitoring progress during rehabilitation, and conducting research on language disorders.

Related pages[edit]

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