The Italian version of ABA2: a new test for the assessment of apraxia of speech.

BACKGROUND

Apraxia of speech (AOS) is a motor speech disorder defined by impaired planning and programming of movements necessary for accurate speech production. Assessment of AOS is typically qualitative, with limited standardized tools available for comprehensive evaluation.

OBJECTIVE

The Apraxia Battery for Adults - Second Edition (ABA-2) is a widely used English-language instrument that includes subtests assessing diadochokinetic rate, increasing word length, limb and oral apraxia, latency, and pronunciation time for polysyllabic words and repeated trials, as well as an articulation characteristics inventory. This study aimed to translate and validate the ABA-2 for Italian-speaking individuals.

METHODS

The test was translated and adapted into Italian. It was validated in healthy (N = 87) and neurological (N = 38) samples.

RESULTS

The test showed excellent discriminant validity, inter-rater agreement, and test-retest reliability, supporting the use of the battery to identify the salient features required for a clinical evaluation of patients' specific articulatory abilities.

CONCLUSION

This work provides a standardized tool in the Italian language for assessing apraxia of speech, facilitating reliable evaluations in both clinical practice and research.