Abstract summary 

The Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) has been adapted for use in many different languages and in low- and middle-income countries. However, few adaptations have evaluated performance differences between home- and acquired-language administrations. The present study examined performance on an adapted HVLT-R between multilingual South Africans who chose to be tested in a home or acquired language. The HVLT-R was administered to 112 multilingual, isiXhosa as home language, Black South African adults (49% men) with no major medical, neurological, or psychiatric problems. Sixty-one preferred to take the test in isiXhosa and 51 preferred English. We examined between-language differences in word equivalency, primary scores, learning indices, and serial position effects. We also examined language, age, education, and gender on test performance. English-examinees were significantly younger and more educated than isiXhosa-examinees ('s < .05). Although isiXhosa words had more letters and syllables than English words ('s <.001), there were no significant differences between groups on HVLT-R performance or serial recall ('s > .05). More education and being a woman predicted better Total and Delayed Recall ('s<.05). Performance on this modified HVLT-R appears similar between English and isiXhosa administrations among South African isiXhosa first language speakers, which makes comparisons between preferred language administrations appropriate.

Authors & Co-authors:  Scott Travis M TM Gouse Hetta H Joska John J Thomas Kevin G F KGF Henry Michelle M Dreyer Anna A Robbins Reuben N RN

Study Outcome 

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