Replicating the Expected and the Unexpected: Neuropsychological and Symptom Profiles in a Neurotypical Romanian-English Bilingual Sample.

Abstract

Establishing the effect of limited English proficiency (LEP) on cognitive performance within linguistically diverse populations is central to cross-cultural neuropsychological assessments. The present study was designed to replicate previous research on cognitive profiles in Romanian-English bilinguals. Seventy-six participants (54 women, MAge = 23.16, SDAge = 5.91; MEducation = 14.49, SDEducation = 1.57) completed a neuropsychological battery in English. The Digit Span, Animal and Emotion Fluency, and several symptom-report scales were also administered in Romanian. Performance patterns were similar to previous findings: verbal fluency, auditory verbal learning, and picture and speeded color naming were highly sensitive to LEP. In contrast, visuomotor processing speed and mental flexibility were robust to LEP. Participants performed better when ability tests were administered in their native language; there was no difference on symptom inventories. Test performance was related to the degree of LEP, operationalized as performance on the Boston Naming Test-Short Form. Level of verbal mediation and LEP are independent predictors of cognitive performance. Administering tests in the native language may provide a more accurate measure of cognitive functioning in examinees with LEP (especially at the low end of English proficiency). Developing population-specific norms is a necessary safeguard against the multiple confounding factors in the neuropsychological assessment of individuals with LEP.