Skip Navigation



Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology Advance Access published online on October 27, 2009
Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, doi:10.1093/arclin/acp077
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Dean, P. M.
Right arrow Articles by Morton, D.
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Dean, P. M.
Right arrow Articles by Morton, D.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org.

Clinical Evaluation of the Mini-Mental State Exam with Culturally Deaf Senior Citizens

Pamela M. Deana, David M. Feldmanb,*, Donna Morerea and Diane Mortona

a Department of Psychology, Gallaudet University, DC, USA
b Department of Psychology, Barry University, Miami Shores, FL, USA

* Corresponding author at: Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, Barry University, 11300 N. Second Avenue, Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695, USA. Tel.: +1-305-899-3478; fax: +1-305-899-3279. E-mail address: dfeldman{at}mail.barry.edu (D.M. Feldman).


  Abstract

The Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) is commonly used to screen cognitive function in a clinical setting. The measure has been published in over 50 languages; however, the validity and reliability of the MMSE has yet to be assessed with the culturally Deaf elderly population. Participants consisted of 117 Deaf senior citizens, aged 55–89 (M = 69.44, SD = 8.55). Demographic information, including state of residence, age, and history of depression, head injury, and dementia diagnoses, were collected. A standard form of the MMSE was used with modification of test administration and stimuli including translation of English test items into a sign-based form and alteration of two items in order to make them culturally and linguistically appropriate. Significant correlations were observed between overall test score and education level (r = .23, p = .01) as well as test score and age (r = –.33, p < .001). Patterns of responses were analyzed and revealed several items that were problematic and yielded a fewer correct responses. These results indicate that clinicians need to be aware of cultural and linguistic factors associated with the deaf population that may impact test performance and clinical interpretation of test results. On the basis of these data, there is an increased risk of false positives obtained when using this measure. Further research is needed to validate the use of this measure with the culturally Deaf population.

Keywords MMSE; Deaf; American Sign Language

Accepted: September 15, 2009


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.