Redefining the norms: an interdisciplinary perspective on language testing in multilinguals with acquired and progressive neurogenic disorders
Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring, vol. 18, pp. e70366
Abstract
Accurate language assessment is essential in clinical and research contexts. However, most assessment tools and questionnaires have been developed within monolingual frameworks, overlooking the particularities of the vast multilingual population and, thus, often leading to misdiagnosis and inequitable care. Here, we examine the limitations of monolingual-centric approaches to language testing in multilinguals with acquired and progressive neurogenic disorders and explore the implications of multilingualism across linguistic, cognitive, neural, clinical, and sociocultural domains. We also address the need for technological innovation and theoretical refinement to better accommodate linguistic diversity in healthcare. Ultimately, we advocate for a nuanced, equitable, and culturally sensitive model of language assessment that reflects the realities of multilingual populations by accounting for their diverse linguistic repertoires, cognitive trajectories, and neural profiles. This model integrates valid, adapted tools, inclusive normative data, and context-appropriate testing practices, with particular attention to under-represented and typologically diverse languages.
Authors 21
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Psychology University of Geneva Geneva Switzerland
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Universidad de Santiago de Chile · University of California, San Francisco · University of San Andrés · Global Brain Health Institute
Affiliation as printed
Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas Universidad de San Andrés Buenos Aires Argentina
Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades Universidad de Santiago de Chile Santiago Chile
Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) University of California San Francisco USA
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Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University
Affiliation as printed
Department of Neurology University Hospital RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany
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Affiliation as printed
School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences University of Reading Reading UK
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University of California, San Francisco · Global Brain Health Institute
Affiliation as printed
Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) University of California San Francisco USA
UCSF Edward and Pearl Fein Memory and Aging Center University of California at San Francisco San Francisco USA
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Universidad Complutense de Madrid · Universidad Tecnológica del Perú
Affiliation as printed
Facultad de Psicología Universidad Complutense de Madrid Madrid Spain
Universidad Tecnológica del Perú Arequipa Perú
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences San José State University San José California USA
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Education and Psychology The Open University of Israel Ra'anana Israel
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Communication Disorders Ewha Womans University Seoul South Korea
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Universidade de São Paulo · University of California, San Francisco · Global Brain Health Institute
Affiliation as printed
Cognitive Neurology and Behavioral Unit (GNCC) University of São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) University of California San Francisco USA
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University of Alabama · University of Johannesburg · University of Cambridge
Affiliation as printed
Department of Psychology University of Johannesburg Johannesburg South Africa
Modern Languages and Classics University of Alabama Tuscaloosa USA
Theoretical and Applied Linguistics University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
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Affiliation as printed
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences East Anglia University Norwich UK
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Universidade de São Paulo · Universidade Federal do ABC · University of Hong Kong
Affiliation as printed
Center of Mathematics, Computing, and Cognition Federal University of ABC Santo André Brazil
Cognitive Neurology and Behavioral Unit (GNCC) University of São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
Human Communication, Learning and Development Unit, Faculty of Education The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR
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Affiliation as printed
Comprehensive Center for Brain Health University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Boca Raton USA
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Affiliation as printed
Language and Brain Lab, Sagol School of Neuroscience and School of Education Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv Israel
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University of Hassan II Casablanca
Affiliation as printed
Clinical Neuroscience & Mental Health Lab Hassan II University Casablanca Morocco
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Neurology & Alzheimer Center Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam the Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre Oxford UK
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The University of Texas at Austin
Affiliation as printed
University of Texas at Austin Austin USA
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Affiliation as printed
School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences (PPLS) University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Scotland
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Psychology University of Geneva Geneva Switzerland
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