Dissertation Project
Dementia diagnostics for deaf people: adapting a cognitive screening tool into German Sign Language (DGS)
There are 1,8 million people living with dementia in Germany. The prevalence amongst deaf persons is unknown which is due to the lack of standardized screening tools in German Sign Language (DGS). The lack of diagnostic tools leads to late or false diagnoses and is an example of the underserved community of the deaf.
A diagnostic tool is needed that is standardized, while suitable for deaf people throughout Germany in their third as well as fourth age. The British Sign Language Cognitive Screening Test (BSL-CST)* set the base for a cultural test adaptation into DGS and German deaf culture. In order to control for the psycholinguistic features iconicity, frequency and age of acquisition of the linguistic elements of the test, a rating study was conducted and its results used for test item selection. Through focus groups and involvement of deaf clinicians and experts consulting the process, the participatory research approach led to the first cognitive screening tool in DGS, the KoDGS (Kognitionstest Deutsche Gebärdensprache). The KoDGS was piloted throughout Germany for persons between 50 and 96 years of age and is currently in the norming phase.
*Atkinson, J., Denmark, T., Marshall, J., Mummery, C., & Woll, B. (2015). Detecting Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Deaf People: The British Sign Language Cognitive Screening Test. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 30(7), 649-711.