Date of Award

2012-01-01

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Speech-Language Pathology

Advisor(s)

Anthony P. Salvatore

Abstract

Preventing falls in the elderly population requires a collaborative effort that includes medical treatment, rehabilitation, and environmental modification. Medical assessment of the elderly after a fall is designed to treat the potential conditions associated with the fall, such as broken limbs and trauma to the head resulting in a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Currently, there is no standardized test or protocol accepted across health care facilities to track the cognitive-communicative recovery of elderly patients. A group of elderly individuals deemed healthy and capable of independent living were administered the baseline Immediate Post Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT). This study will investigate the hypothesis of whether there is a statistically significant difference in performance on the ImPACT test between a group of senior individuals and a group of collegiate age healthy individuals.

Results show statistically significant differences between the senior population and the collegiate norms obtained from the UTEP Concussion Management Clinic. These statistical differences were found on all composite scores related to memory, processing speed, reaction time, and impulse control. Further analysis of the sub-tests that comprise the composite scores showed no statistically significant differences on sub-test scores that used stimuli that elicited semantic memory (SMTCV, CMTCC, 3LTSC, and WMTPC).

The results of this comparative study have shown a correlation with current literature on working memory in the senior population with neurocognitive tests similar to the ImPACT test. The results from this preliminary study may not hold true once a larger group of seniors of varying socioeconomic statuses is administered the ImPACT.

Language

en

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Size

66 pages

File Format

application/pdf

Rights Holder

Kevin van den Bogaard

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