Effect of Dysphasia and Spatial Distortion on Wechsler-Bellevue Results

Abstract

Psychological testing of patients with complaints resulting in admission to neurology and neurological surgery services frequently reveals striking deficiencies in fundamental abilities. In a group of 221 patients with verified brain damage, 64 (29%) showed an inability to copy a Greek cross without clear error or distortion. Forty-seven (21%) of the group showed definite evidence of dysphasia. Twenty-one of these patients showed both of these deficits. Since disabilities of these types are usually easily detected and demonstrated without detailed or time-consuming testing, it seemed of value to inquire regarding the possibility of their more general significance with respect to psychological test results. <h3>Material and Methods</h3> In composing the groups for comparative study the first step was to select all patients who gave evidence of dysphasia or who had any difficulty in copying a Greek cross. The Halstead-Wepman Aphasia Screening Test had been administered to each patient routinely and was used