Functional Assessment of Verbal Reasoning and Executive Strategies

Author: Sheila MacDonald M.CI.Sc. SLP(C)

Sufficiently Challenging to Detect Subtle Cognitive-Communication Deficits

• Assesses verbal reasoning, complex comprehension, discourse, and executive functioning during performance on a set of challenging functional tasks.
• Requires processing of ‘real life’ amounts of information, analysis of several factors, integration of a variety of types of stimuli, and formulation of written and oral responses.

Standardized on the ABI population

• Standardized on adults with acquired brain injuries as well as a sample of non-injured controls (18-79 yrs). Individual performance can be compared to norms for time, accuracy, rationale, and a set of reasoning subskills.
• Sound reliability and validity with clinical trials demonstrating statistically significant differences between adults with ABI and non-injured controls.

Reflective of Functioning in the Real World

• Designed with ecological validity in mind FAVRES tasks simulate real world communications and incorporate context using natural settings, roles, and conversation.
• Qualitative and Quantitative aspects of performance are incorporated into the scoring
• Tasks require the examinee to:
  • Plan an Event
  • Schedule a Work day
  • Decide on a Gift
  • Build a Case to Solve a Common Problem

Yields Clinically Relevant Information about Verbal Reasoning Performance

FAVRES results form the basis for treatment planning by answering the following questions.

1. Getting the Facts – Can the person identify the most important facts?
2. Eliminating Irrelevant Information – Can the person identify and ignore less relevant information in order to focus on more important information?
3. Weighing the Facts – Can the person compare or weigh competing options or criteria?
4. Flexibility – Can the person revise a decision or plan of action when presented with new information?
5. Generating of Alternatives – Can the person efficiently generate a variety of solutions, options or alternatives?
6. Predicting Consequences – Can the person predict potential outcomes, pros and cons, or consequences of a choice?
7. Providing a Rationale – Can the person provide a rationale or a set of reasons for making a choice?

Administration Time: Approx. 60 minutes: 15 minutes per task. lndividual times vary.

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