The Use of Standardized Tests for Individuals with Cognitive-Communication Disorders

The assessment of individuals with cognitive-communication disorders after traumatic brain injury can present a major challenge to speech-language pathologists. For this reason, the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences Practice Guidelines Group dedicated a specific writing committee to this topic. This article summarizes the writing committee's efforts related to the use of standardized, norm-referenced tests. The article begins with the key questions speech-language pathologists might ask in choosing a standardized test. We then provide a summary of the results of the writing committee's data-gathering activities and a brief description of the tests that appeared to meet most established criteria for validity and reliability for use with this clinical population. The article concludes with the identification of areas in which instruments and additional normative data are needed.