Relationship between cognitive and linguistic performances of Cantonese-speaking people with aphasia (PWA)

Abstract

The investigation in the relationship between cognition and language in PWA can be complex since both cognition and language are functions that consist of multiple components. The present study extended the study by K. Y. Lee (2019) on the relationship between cognitive and linguistic performances with a dataset of 52 Cantonese-speaking PWA. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) reduced six cognitive tests/subtests into two factors, namely Attention/Working Memory, and Executive Function. Result from the regression analyses has revealed that both factors significantly predicted PWA’s performance at all linguistic levels (i.e. word comprehension and production, sentence comprehension and discourse production). Specifically, Attention/Working Memory was the main predictor of PWA’s performances at word level, while Executive Function contributed more to prediction of PWA’s performances at sentence and discourse level. The present study serves as a demonstration on using PCA to find out the underlying cognitive domains shared by a large number of cognitive tests which outweighs the use of composite/individual test scores. It also provides support on the importance of attention, working memory and executive function across all linguistic levels. Clinically, the present study also helped clinicians in the planning, as well as compensatory strategies, for both assessment and intervention of PWA’s language impairments.