<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Aphasia following an acquired neurological insult necessitates an in-depth evaluation of the primary and secondary language symptoms. Of all the tools available for aphasia diagnosis, the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB; Kertesz, 1982) has proved to be one of the most comprehensive test batteries for describing the aphasia symptom complex. Several authors have pointed out the need for language-specific tools for the assessment of aphasia. But in Bengali, the most prevalent language in eastern India, no formal language assessment tool was available to date. The present study adapted the original WAB in Bengali to give the Bengali WAB (B-WAB). The study was completed in three phases: development, standardization and validation of the B-WAB. The test material was developed preserving the total number of items, however minor changes were made wherever necessary so that it matched the sociolinguistic norms in this part of the country. It was standardized in a group of 150 normal individuals in five different age groups ranging from 18-70 years, and normative values were provided for each subtest for each group. For establishing validity, it was administered to 30 aphasic subjects and the results indicated that the B-WAB was a valid tool for testing individuals with aphasia.</p></abstract>

Aphasia following an acquired neurological insult necessitates an in-depth evaluation of the primary and secondary language symptoms. Of all the tools available for aphasia diagnosis, the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB; Kertesz, 1982) has proved to be one of the most comprehensive test batteries for describing the aphasia symptom complex. Several authors have pointed out the need for language-specific tools for the assessment of aphasia. But in Bengali, the most prevalent language in eastern India, no formal language assessment tool was available to date. The present study adapted the original WAB in Bengali to give the Bengali WAB (B-WAB). The study was completed in three phases: development, standardization and validation of the B-WAB. The test material was developed preserving the total number of items, however minor changes were made wherever necessary so that it matched the sociolinguistic norms in this part of the country. It was standardized in a group of 150 normal individuals in five different age groups ranging from 18-70 years, and normative values were provided for each subtest for each group. For establishing validity, it was administered to 30 aphasic subjects and the results indicated that the B-WAB was a valid tool for testing individuals with aphasia.

Adaptation of The Western Aphasia Battery in Bangla

Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, ERC, Kolkata

Dept. of Speech Language Pathology, Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, ERC, B.T. Road, Bon Hooghly, Kolkata-700090, India

Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, Kolkata

Psychology of Language and Communication

{"article-title":"Adaptation of The Western Aphasia Battery in Bangla"}

Aphasia following an acquired neurological insult necessitates an in-depth evaluation of the primary and secondary language symptoms. Of all the tools...

Adaptation of The Western Aphasia Battery in Bangla

Published Online: Sep 06, 2013

Page range: 189 - 201

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/plc-2013-0012

Keywords
aphasia, Bengali, WAB

This content is open access.

Adaptation of The Western Aphasia Battery in Bangla

Published Online: Sep 06, 2013

Page range: 189 - 201

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/plc-2013-0012

Keywordsaphasia, Bengali, WAB

This content is open access.

Keywords
aphasia, Bengali, WAB