Iranian version of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test: a validation study

To provide the Iranian version of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and assess its reliability. Test items were selected from a pool of common and high frequency words with characteristics of simplicity, concreteness and with lowest emotional load. Two different Persian version of the Rey test was prepared according to Lezak criteria with three lists A, B and recognition words (List A + List B + 20 new words) in each version with different parts including I to V repetition of list A, sum, list B, immediate recall (VI), delayed recall (VII) (after 20 minutes) and word recognition in the administrating phase. This randomized study was done among 250 normal aged people without history of medical problem or any other diseases or factors that can affect cognitive ability with 60 to 80 years old in three elementary, junior and academic literacy levels for both men and women from Aug. 2008 to Feb. 2009 Pearson correlation coefficient was used to define test reliability by completing two different Persian versions of Rey test among 35 aged persons with two months time delay. Increase of test scores from I to V parts showed the effect of test items repetition and learning effect. Regression test exhibited significant effect of age and sex variables on most parts of the Rey test and literacy level had the same effect in all parts of the test (P<0.01). High positive correlation was revealed between results of two different versions of the test (P<0.001, r> 0.730). Persian version of the Rey auditory verbal learning test has good reliability, and can be used to evaluate and interpret the situation of memory and learning ability of the aged people.