title: Montreal-Toulouse Language Assessment Battery: evidence of criterion validity from patients with aphasia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Montreal-Toulouse Language Assessment Battery - Brazilian version (MTL-BR) provides a general description of language processing and related components in adults with brain injury.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed at verifying the criterion-related validity of the Montreal-Toulouse Language Assessment Battery - Brazilian version (MTL-BR) by assessing its ability to discriminate between individuals with unilateral brain damage with and without aphasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The investigation was carried out in a Brazilian community-based sample of 104 adults, divided into four groups: 26 participants with left hemisphere damage (LHD) with aphasia, 25 participants with right hemisphere damage (RHD), 28 with LHD non-aphasic, and 25 healthy adults.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences between patients with aphasia and the other groups on most total and subtotal scores on MTL-BR tasks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed strong criterion-related validity evidence for the MTL-BR Battery, and provided important information regarding hemispheric specialization and interhemispheric cooperation. Future research is required to search for additional evidence of sensitivity, specificity and validity of the MTL-BR in samples with different types of aphasia and degrees of language impairment.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil. Electronic address: karinap_fono@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Karina Carlesso
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Pagliarin
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karin Zazo
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Federal University Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Simone dos Santos
authors.initials: Sdos S
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.affiliation: Federal University ABC, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Alice de Mattos
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pimenta Parente
authors.affiliation: Université Toulouse II - Le Mirail, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Nespoulous
authors.affiliation: Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canadá
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Joanette
authors.affiliation: Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rochele Paz
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Fonseca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001037:Aphasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D007807:Language Tests / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Adults; Aphasia; Assessment; Language tests; Stroke