Adaptation and Normalization of a Verbal Episodic Memory Test in French Sign Language

NCT06902753 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2024-A02627-40
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 120
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

To date, neuropsychological assessment of deaf signing persons is complicated by a lack of resources, especially the absence of tools available in French Sign Language (LSF). This is due to perceptual and cultural differences, and in particular the linguistic differences between French and LSF. This lack of resources significantly hinders access to care for deaf patients, as neuropsychological assessment is often a key clinical criterion in the diagnosis of certain neurological pathologies (Alzheimer's disease in particular) and enables coherent care plans to be drawn up, for example in the aftermath of strokes or traumatic brain injuries. In particular, episodic memory (which refers to the ability to memorise information anchored in a specific context) is a cognitive domain that is sensitive to pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease, but it is not currently possible to assess it with deaf signing patients. The aim of this study is to create a memory assessment test adapted to a deaf population that expresses in LSF and to normalize this test on this same population. The aim is to provide a diagnosis assessment tool, which currently does not exist in France, to improve access to care for deaf people. This project could then be extended to the creation of tests for other cognitive domains (executive functions, attention, social cognition, etc.) and to prospects for cognitive remediation. The 16-item Free and Cued Recall test (RL-RI 16) is the best choice because it is easy to use and accurate enough to assess each stage of episodic memory. These qualities make it a decisive tool in certain differential diagnosis. In order to select the most relevant signs, lexical lists by frequency in LSF will be drawn up during a preliminary phase, during which the participants will have to give, in one minute, the maximum number of signs belonging to different categories (animals, vegetables, clothes...). These lists will be used to select the most relevant signs according to their frequency (neither too common nor too rare), based on the same principle as RL-RI 16. It will then be standardised on deaf adults, for whom LSF is the main language, with no cognitive impairment, across France, via the various Deaf Care Units, with the help of French / LSF interpreters. Working with different centers in France will make it possible to recruit a larger and more representative number of participants, and to be more sensitive to any regional effects.

Conditions

Neuropsychological Tests; Memory; Alzheimer Disease; Deafness; Sign Language; Cognitive Impairment

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Normed data for the RL-RI-LSF test for a deaf population without cognitive impairment

  The main goal of this study is to propose normed data for the RL-RI-LSF test (adaptation in LSF of the RL-RI 16 test) for a deaf population without cognitive impairment. The RL-RI-LSF scores correspond to the number of signs correctly recalled by the patient during each recall: * free recalls * cued recalls * recognition scores We will model each RL-RI-LSF score as a function of the participant's gender, age and socio-cultural level. We will present an expected mean score for each age, gender and socio-cultural level class.

  Phase 2: 9 months

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Correlation RL-RI LSF / MMS-LS

  Phase 2: 9 months

• Reproductibility over time

  Phase 2: 9 months

• Normative data for the Rey Complex Figure Test

  Phase 2: 9 months

• Normative data for 3 subtests of the WAIS-IV

  Phase 2: 9 months

Study Arms (1)

Healthy Deaf Signing Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: Questionnaire and Physical Exam

Interventions

Questionnaire and Physical Exam OTHER

Neuropsychological assessment: * Phase 1: MMS-LS (overall cognitive efficiency) + fluency tasks (verbal flexibility) * Phase 2: MMS-LS (if the participant did not take part in phase 1), RL-RI LSF (verbal memory), Rey Complex Figure (visuospatial abilities and visual memory), Progressive Matrices, Symbols and Code (executive functions)

Healthy Deaf Signing Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Person aged ≥ 18 yo
• with severe or profound deafness (hearing loss ≥ 70 decibels)
• whose main language is French Sign Language
• able to consent in writing after a clear explanation of the procedure
• affiliated to the French Healthcare system (Sécurité Sociale) through self or another person
• person with a medical history in neurology (stroke, traumatic brain injury, dementia) or psychiatry bipolar syndrom or schizophrenia that would not be medicated, severe depression)
• persons with medical developmental backgroung (e.g genetic syndrome)
• person with cancer history needing chemotherapy
• person with a diagnosed and untreated sleeping trouble
• person drinking \> 10 glasses of alcohol per week or using drugs on a daily basis
• person with visual issues
• person under 18yo or unable to take decisions for self

You may not qualify if:

• A score ≤ 20/28 or 17/28 at the MMS-LS test, depending on the schooling of the participant (20/28 for participants with a degree, 17/28 for participants without a degree)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Poitiers University Hospital: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease; Deafness; Sign Language; Cognitive Dysfunction

Interventions

Surveys and Questionnaires; Restraint, Physical

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Dementia; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Tauopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders; Hearing Loss; Hearing Disorders; Ear Diseases; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Sensation Disorders; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Language; Communication; Behavior; Manual Communication; Nonverbal Communication; Cognition Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Data Collection; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Public Health; Environment and Public Health; Behavior Control; Therapeutics; Immobilization

Study Officials

• Pierre-Alexandre BERARD, Speech-Language Pathologist

  Poitiers University Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Pierre-Alexandre BERARD

CONTACT

+33 5 49 44 44 44; pierre-alexandre.berard@chu-poitiers.fr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 30, 2024
• First Posted: March 30, 2025
• Study Start: April 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2027
• Last Updated: March 30, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-03