A semantic verbal fluency test for English- and Spanish-speaking older Mexican-Americans

Currently, there are few semantic verbal fluency tests available with appropriate and adequate normative data for older Latinos of Mexican ancestry. The purposes of this study were to examine the effects of language and socioeconomic variables on a semantic verbal fluency test, derive normative data and develop statistical corrections for the effects of significant variables. A large, community-dwelling sample of Latinos of primarily Mexican ancestry over age 60 was asked to name animals with four legs within 1 min in their preferred language of English or Spanish. The total sum of animals named was influenced by age, education, gender, and, to a much lesser extent, language of test administration. Regression coefficients derived from demographic variables were used to adjust raw scores in a general correction formula, and specific percentile cutoff values were identified for these adjusted scores. Normative data tables stratified on demographic variables are also presented.