Normative data for teleneuropsychological testing: Findings from a Canadian adult cohort

Use of teleneuropsychological services has greatly increased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aimed to create normative data for a neuropsychological test battery of diverse cognitive domains in a Canadian population. A sample (<i>n</i> = 291) of adults aged 19 or older completed a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment (i.e. memory, executive function, etc.) <i>via</i> Zoom. Participants included those with a COVID-19 diagnosis (<i>n</i> = 146) and participants who had not contracted COVID-19 (<i>n</i> = 145). Data were stratified by age group as follows: 19–34, 35–49, 50–64, 65–79. Linear bivariate regression in the entire sample and groups stratified by age was used to test the relationship between age and test scores. Test scores were converted to z-scores using the mean and standard deviation for that group, with z-scores then transformed into normative scores for each test. Age was a significant predictor of scores for all tests except for FAS, HVLT-R (Retention, Recognition), and Digit Span (Forwards, Backwards). After raw test scores were regressed onto age for each group, age was no longer a significant predictor for most test scores, with exceptions for each age group. This study created normative data for a diverse teleneuropsychological test battery in a Canadian population. Standard­ized scores generally fell within the average range, with the exception of TOPF and JLO scores, which may be explained by high educational attainment and virtual testing environment, respectively. The results suggest that the teleneuropsychological testing environment results in similar performance to in-person assessment.

自新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）疫情暴发以来，远程神经心理学服务的使用量大幅增长。本研究旨在为加拿大人群中涵盖多认知领域的成套神经心理测试建立常模数据。研究招募了291名19岁及以上的成年人作为研究对象（n=291），所有受试者均通过Zoom平台完成了涵盖记忆、执行功能等领域的全面神经心理学评估。受试者分为两类：新冠病毒感染确诊者（n=146）与未感染新冠病毒者（n=145）。数据按年龄组进行分层，具体分组为19–34岁、35–49岁、50–64岁、65–79岁。本研究采用全样本及年龄分层亚组的线性双变量回归分析，检验年龄与测试得分之间的关联。以各年龄亚组的均值与标准差将原始测试得分转换为z分数，再将各测试项目的z分数转化为常模得分。分析结果显示，除字母流畅性测验（FAS）、霍普金斯语言学习测验-修订版（HVLT-R，包括回忆、再认）以及数字广度测验（Digit Span，顺背、倒背）外，年龄对所有测试的得分均具有显著预测作用。在对各年龄亚组的原始测试得分与年龄进行回归分析后，除部分年龄亚组存在例外情况外，年龄对多数测试得分不再具有显著预测作用。本研究为加拿大人群的多维度远程神经心理测试组合建立了常模数据。标准化得分总体处于平均水平，仅前额叶功能测试（TOPF）与线条判断测验（JLO）得分例外，这一结果可分别通过较高的受教育水平与远程测试环境加以解释。本研究结果表明，远程神经心理测试环境下的测试表现与面对面评估结果相近。