Purpose
This work evaluates clinical-standard semantic memory assessments in monolingual Spanish-speaking Colombian adults with and without aphasia, addressing 2 aims: (1) to examine whether event semantic memory is related to object and action semantic memory performance; and (2) to explore whether clinical-standard semantic memory assessments can distinguish between Colombian adults with and without aphasia.
Methods
Object, action, and event semantic memory clinical assessments were used evaluate 16 adults with aphasia and 16 matched controls from Colombia. Bayesian linear mixed-effects models were used to examine the 2 specific aims.
Results
First, results replicated and extended findings that object and action deficits may contribute to event semantic memory impairments in aphasia. Second, results suggested that clinical-standard semantic memory assessments may distinguish between people with and without post-stroke aphasia in a Colombian sample.
Conclusion
This work identifies the need to continue developing sociolinguistically sensitive neuropsychological assessments, which are critical for establishing valid cognitive models and improving clinical diagnostics and treatments in diverse populations of stroke survivors.