Faculty Publications

South Asian Adults’ Performance On Executive Function Tests

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book/Conference Title

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology

Volume

26

Issue

4

First Page

1254

Last Page

1261

Abstract

Purpose: This study compared the performance of South Asian and White adults on the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS; Wilson, Alderman, Burgess, Emslie, & Evans, 1996) and the Functional Assessment of Verbal Reasoning and Executive Strategies (FAVRES; MacDonald, 2005), tests that can be used by speech-language pathologists to assess executive function (EF). Method: Twenty South Asian and 20 White participants were administered the BADS and FAVRES. Raw scores were converted to profile scores on the BADS and to standard scores on the FAVRES. Analysis of covariance statistics were calculated to compare EF test performance. Results: South Asian and White participants did not demonstrate significant performance differences on the BADS. On the FAVRES, Whites had significantly higher accuracy scores on 2 of the 4 subtests and significantly higher rationale scores on 3 subtests. South Asian adults who completed all of their formal education in India had lower accuracy and rationale scores on 2 of the 4 subtests versus South Asian adults who completed at least some of their formal education in North America. No significant differences occurred on the Time scores for any subtest or on the overall Reasoning score. Conclusions: Performance differences on EF tests may exist between South Asian and White adults. Further research is necessary to determine the impact of cultural and linguistic differences on EF test performance in South Asian adults.

Department

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

Original Publication Date

11-1-2017

DOI of published version

10.1044/2017_AJSLP-16-0173

Repository

UNI ScholarWorks, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa

Language

en

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