An aphasia test measures the amount of language ability lost in the wake of a traumatic brain injury. Initial assessments use responses to simple questions, ability to follow simple instructions, or item recognition to determine the presence of aphasia. Follow-up testing may include a battery of examinations to determine the type, extent, and severity of aphasia symptoms. An aphasia test is used to help plan rehabilitative activities in the wake of a stroke, tumor, traumatic brain injury or other damage to the brain.
Contemporary imaging technology can also be used to determine the location of damage within the brain. Since the disorder has varied manifestations among patients, doctors must rely on language assessments to determine how a patient is affected by aphasia. An aphasia test can be used to diagnose aphasia among a range of other impairments. There are many different types of aphasia that present themselves differently based on the location of the brain injury.
Aphasia symptoms can be mimicked by other cerebral disturbances. The Halstead Screening Test is an initial aphasia test for the presence of aphasia. When taking this assessment, the patient is asked to perform a series of tasks including spelling simple words, naming common objects and identifying numbers and letters. If aphasia is identified, the Halstead Assessment Test would be followed by a more comprehensive examination of language ability.
A comprehensive aphasia test procedure consists of a series of testing batteries. The motor speech battery detects the type of aphasia if it is indeed present. The orientation and general information battery determines if the impairment is caused by aphasia or some other condition such as dementia or general confusion. The measure of general language ability battery assesses the severity of the language deficiency and identifies the patient's strengths and weaknesses.
Other tests help doctors to assess the prognosis of aphasia patients. The Minnesota Test for Differential Diagnosis of Aphasia assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the patient while assessing other perceptual disorders. This aphasia test is a primary tool for planning treatment activities. The Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination was designed to help locate the part of the brain that was injured and caused the aphasia, while the Porch Index of Communicative Ability focuses on progress and recovery in an aphasia patient. An aphasia test should be administered and scored by a trained professional for official diagnosis and treatment.