Brazilian version of the Protocole Montréal d'Evaluation de la Communication (Protocole MEC): normative and reliability data.

The lack of standardized instruments to evaluate communication disorders related to the right hemisphere was verified. A new evaluation tool was developed: Protocole Montréal d'Evaluation de la Communication--Protocole MEC, adapted to Brazilian Portuguese--Bateria Montreal de Avaliação da Comunicação--Bateria MAC (Montreal Evaluation of Communication Battery). The purpose was to present stratified normative data by age and educational level, and to verify the reliability parameters of the MEC Battery. 300 individuals, between the ages of 19 and 75 years, and levels of formal education between 2 and 35 years, participated in this study. They were divided equally into six normative groups, according to three age categories (young adults, intermediary age, and seniors) and two educational levels (low and high). Two procedures were used to check reliability: Cronbach alpha and reliability between evaluators, Results were established at the 10th percentile, and an alert point per task for each normative group. Cronbach's alpha was, in general, between .70 and .90 and the average rate of agreement between evaluators varied from .62 to .94. Standards of age and education were established. The reliability of this instrument was verified. The psychometric legitimization of the MEC Battery will contribute to the diagnostic process for communicative disorders.

Brazilian Version of the Protocole Montréal d’Évaluation de la Communication (Protocole MEC): Normative and Reliability Data

The lack of standardized instruments to evaluate communication disorders related to the right hemisphere was verified.A new evaluation tool was developed: Protocole Montréal d’Évaluation de la Communication - Protocole MEC, adapted to Brazilian Portuguese - Bateria Montreal de Avaliação da Comunicação - Bateria MAC (Montreal Evaluation of Communication Battery). The purpose was to present stratified normative data by age and educational level, and to verify the reliability parameters of the MEC Battery. 300 individuals, between the ages of 19 and 75 years, and levels of formal education between 2 and 35 years, participated in this study. They were divided equally into six normative groups, according to three age categories (young adults, intermediary age, and seniors) and two educational levels (low and high). Two procedures were used to check reliability: Cronbach alpha and reliability between evaluators. Results were established at the 10th percentile, and an alert point per task for each normative group. Cronbach's alpha was, in general, between .70 and .90 and the average rate of agreement between evaluators varied from .62 to.94. Standards of age and education were established. The reliability of this instrument was verified. The psychometric legitimization of the MEC Battery will contribute to the diagnostic process for communicative disorders (AU)

Se verificó la falta de instrumentos estandarizados para evaluar los trastornos de comunicación relacionados con el hemisferio derecho. Se desarrolló una herramienta de evaluación nueva: el Protocole Montréal d'Évaluation de la Communication - Protocolo MEC, adaptado al portugués brasileño - Bateria Montreal de Avaliação da Comunicação - Batería MAC (Batería de Evaluación de la Comunicación de Montreal). El objetivo fue presentar datos normativos estratificados por edad y nivel académico, y verificar los parámetros de fiabilidad de la batería MEC. 300 individuos, de edades entre los 19 y los 75 años y con 2 a 35 años de educación formal, participaron en este estudio. Se dividieron en seis grupos normativos, en función de tres categorías de edad (adultos jóvenes, edad mediana y mayores) y dos niveles educacionales (bajo y alto). Se emplearon dos procedimientos para confirmar la fiabilidad: alfa de Cronbach y fiabilidad inter-jueces. Se establecieron los resultados en el percentil 10 con un punto de alerta por tarea para cada grupo normativo. Los valores de alfa de Cronbach eran, en general, entre 0.70 y 0.90 y el grado de acuerdo entre los evaluadores variaba entre 0.62 y 0.94. Se establecieron normas de edad y educación. Se verificó la fiabilidad de este instrumento. La legitimación psicométrica de la Batería MEC contribuirá al proceso diagnóstico de los trastornos de comunicación (AU)