Purpose

The test battery is designed to assess receptive and expressive language functions in middle-aged and older adults.

Brief Description

This battery evaluates language abilities (comprehension and expression) in adults through standardized questions and tasks. It includes:
Picture Naming (BNT), which assesses the individual’s ability to recall and express words.
Vocabulary Comprehension (PPVT), which involves identifying correct images corresponding to spoken words.
Verbal Fluency, which measures the ability to produce words within specific categories (e.g., animals, professions).
Following Commands (NEPSY), which tests understanding and execution of complex verbal instructions.
Word Definitions (WASI), which evaluate the depth of a person’s vocabulary knowledge.

Sample

The battery has been administered to Greek-speaking adults, focusing on two main age groups: middle-aged (40–60 years) and older adults (60+ years). The sample comes from urban and semi-urban areas and is balanced in terms of gender and education level. Some studies included individuals with mild cognitive impairment for comparison. Sample sizes typically range from 100 to 300 individuals, depending on the test administered.

Scoring Method

Scoring is based on performance across the various subtests:
In Picture Naming (BNT):
1 point for each correct response without cues
0.5 points for a correct response after a cue (e.g., phonological hint)
0 points for incorrect or no response
In Vocabulary Comprehension (PPVT):
1 point for each correct image-word match
0 points for incorrect selections
In Verbal Fluency:
Scoring is based on the number of correct words produced within a time limit (e.g., words per category)
In Following Commands (NEPSY):
1 point for each correctly executed step in a complex instruction
In Word Definitions (WASI):
Each response is scored from 0 to 2 points, depending on the accuracy and completeness of the definition
Individual scores are combined to generate composite indices (e.g., general vocabulary, spoken language processing), and raw or percentile scores are calculated based on Greek population norms.

Reliability

All subtests in the battery have verified reliability (Cronbach’s α > 0.95), showing high internal consistency across different versions of the same test.