Review on Learning Disability – Aphasia Assessment in Malaysia

Authors: Saeid Motevalli , Celine Deanna Wei Ling Chan (UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Speakers: Saeid Motevalli , Celine Deanna Wei Ling Chan
Strand: Applied Sociolinguistics
Session Type: General Session

Abstract

Introduction:

Aphasia is an acquired language disorder that is due to damage to particular parts of the brain that are mainly for language formulation and comprehension. Individuals with aphasia will eventually experience challenges in communication, language impairment, activity limitation, and participation restriction. There are a few factors contributing to aphasia, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, neurodegenerative disease, and trauma. On top of that, individuals with aphasia will commonly experience problems with language production as well as comprehension, which influence their capability to communicate and engage in daily living.

Objective:

The objective of this study is to conduct review research to explore and summarize the use of assessments for aphasia as a learning disability in Malaysia.

Methods:

A literature search was conducted on Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed platforms by entering keywords related to the topic. The year of publication for the journal articles used was between the year 2018 to 2023, with an exception for classic literature. The titles and abstracts of the journal articles, as well as the full text was reviewed carefully prior to analyzing and reporting it.

Findings:

The results reported that the Western Aphasia Battery-Revised (WAB-R) and the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE) were two aphasia diagnostic assessments that were commonly used in Malaysia.

Conclusion:

Results demonstrated that only two types of aphasia assessment were used to diagnose patients who are prone to experience aphasia which are the Western Aphasia Battery-Revised (WAB-R) and the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE). Moreover, very limited past studies demonstrated the assessment that was used in Malaysia.

Recommendation:

Future researchers are able to utilize these results as a reference to further study on this issue.

Keywords: Aphasia, language, communication, assessment, review research