SHORT NART, CCRT AND SPOT-THE-WORD - COMPARISONS IN OLDER AND DEMENTED PERSONS

This study compares the efficacy of three measures of premorbid intell igence: the National Adult Reading Test (NART), the Cambridge Contextu al Reading Test (CCRT), and the Spot-the-Word Test. The results in a p opulation sample of elderly and demented participants show that test e fficacy varies between groups. In a demented group and a normal group of average readers, the CCRT leads to a higher estimate of premorbid w ord reading ability than the NART. Spot-the-Word results in good perfo rmance by normal groups and participants with minimal dementia, but pe rformance is grossly impaired in subjects with mild/moderate dementia. We conclude that each test may be appropriate for specific groups.