Soto, Chehally, Peter Hauser, and Jessica Contreras. "Assessment of Deaf American Sign Language-English Bilinguals' Cognitive Abilities." NTID Student Research Fair. RIT/NTID. Rochester, New York. 25 Apr. 2025. Conference Presentation.
The assessment of cognitive abilities in deaf individuals using standard neuropsychological tools presents significant challenges, as these tools often fail to account for the unique linguistic and cultural aspects of the deaf community. This research aims to address this gap by developing and evaluating bilingual American Sign Language (ASL) and English neuropsychological assessment tools designed for use with deaf adults, particularly in the context of dementia diagnosis. The current study focuses on assessing the psychometric properties of these bilingual tools by testing the cognitive and language abilities of deaf college students. The study employs a battery of tests, including both ASL and English versions, to measure a range of cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and executive function. The findings from this study will contribute valuable insights into how linguistic background and language modality (ASL versus spoken/written English) may influence the presentation of cognitive aging and dementia. By refining diagnostic tools to account for these variables, the study aims to improve early identification and intervention for cognitive disorders in the deaf community, ultimately leading to better treatment outcomes. Additionally, the research has broader implications for enhancing the inclusivity and accuracy of neuropsychological assessments for diverse linguistic groups, particularly those who are often overlooked or misdiagnosed due to language barriers. This poster presentation will discuss recruitment challenges, testing methodologies, and the broader implications of using bilingual tools in clinical settings.