The Signed Verbal Learning Test: Assessing Verbal Memory of Deaf Signers

Memory assessment involves the measurement of a wide range of memory functions, both verbal, or linguistic, and nonverbal. Although research suggests that modified measures of visual memory may be adequate for deaf signers, this is not the case for measures of linguistic memory. Few measures of memory for signs are available, and direct translation of measures developed in English is likely to be invalid for use with deaf signers. The current article briefly reviews the literature on verbal memory assessment of deaf individuals and presents a measure of list learning developed for individuals using American Sign Language that takes into account the influence of both English and ASL on learning and memory performance.