Compared to nouns, the impairment of the capacity of retrieving verbs in spoken production is much less documented. In the clinical field, there are also very few tests that have been developed specifically for verb anomia. Clinicians and researchers lack a concise and practical naming test to assess verb anomia, a condition that can occur in adults and the elderly due to various factors. The aim of this study was to adapt the Quebec Action Video Naming Test-30 items (DVAQ-30) into Turkish, establish its validity and develop normative data adapted to the Turkish population.

Method

This research consists of three studies. In Study 1, the DVAQ-30 was linguistically and culturally adapted to the Turkish language, resulting in the DVAQ-TR. In Study 2, a group of adults and older Turkish-speaking people were assessed with the DVAQ-TR to obtain normative data. In Study 3, the psychometric properties of the DVAQ-TR (known-group discriminant validity and convergent validity) were investigated by comparing the performance of healthy individuals and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Results

Normative data were obtained based on the performance of 424 participants aged between 18 and 81 years. The percentiles were stratified according to the sociodemographic influencing variables of age, sex and level of education. The DVAQ-TR had good convergent validity and distinguished the performance of healthy participants from that of participants with MCI or AD.

Conclusions

The DVAQ-TR fills an important gap and has the capacity to assist clinicians and researchers in more accurately identifying acquired verb anomia, including in people with MCI or AD.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS

What is already known on this subject

Verb anomia is a frequent symptom in various neurocognitive disorders, yet it remains under-assessed in clinical settings, especially compared to noun naming. Existing tools in Turkish primarily focus on object naming and often rely on static images, which may not effectively capture action concepts. Recent studies suggest that video-based assessments provide a more ecologically valid approach to verb naming evaluation.

What this study adds to existing knowledge

This study presents the Turkish adaptation and validation of the DVAQ-30, a video-based verb naming test, offering culturally and linguistically appropriate normative data for Turkish-speaking adults and elderly individuals. It also demonstrates that the DVAQ-TR successfully differentiates between healthy controls and individuals with MCI or Alzheimer's disease and shows good convergent validity with the Boston Naming Test. These findings highlight the clinical utility of the DVAQ-TR in detecting verb anomia in Turkish-speaking populations.

What are the clinical implications of this study?

The DVAQ-TR provides clinicians with a quick, valid, and culturally sensitive tool for assessing verb anomia in adults with suspected neurocognitive impairments. It enhances diagnostic accuracy and may inform tailored language intervention strategies in individuals with MCI and Alzheimer's disease. The availability of Turkish normative data ensures accurate interpretation of test results across different age, sex, and education groups.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Open Research

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

References

Albert, M. S., S. T. DeKosky, D. Dickson, et al. 2011. “The Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer's Disease: Recommendations From the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association Workgroups on Diagnostic Guidelines for Alzheimer's Disease.” Alzheimer's & Dementia: the Journal of the Alzheimer's Association 7, no. 3: 270–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2011.03.008.
10.1016/j.jalz.2011.03.008
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Arsenault-Lapierre, G., V. Whitehead, S. Belleville, F. Massoud, H. Bergman, and H. Chertkow. 2011. “Mild Cognitive Impairment Subcategories Depend on the Source of Norms.” Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology 33, no. 5: 596–603. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803395.2010.547459.
10.1080/13803395.2010.547459
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Barsalou, L. W. 1999. “Perceptual Symbol Systems.” Behavioral and Brain Sciences 22, no. 4: 577‑-660. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X99002149.
10.1017/S0140525X99002149
Web of Science® Google Scholar
Blankestijn-Wilmsen, J., I. Damen, V. Voorbraak-Timmerman, et al. 2017. “The Effect of Static Versus Dynamic Depictions of Actions in Verb and Sentence Production in Aphasia.” Aphasiology 31, no. 10: 1166–1182. https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2016.1258537.
10.1080/02687038.2016.1258537
Web of Science® Google Scholar
Bowles, N. L., L. K. Obler, and M. L. Albert. 1987. “Naming Errors in Healthy Aging and Dementia of the Alzheimer Type.” Cortex: A Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior 23, no. 3: 519–524. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0010-9452(87)80012-6.
10.1016/S0010-9452(87)80012-6
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Breedin, S. D., E. M. Saffran, and M. F. Schwartz. 1998. “Semantic Factors in Verb Retrieval: An Effect of Complexity.” Brain and Language 63, no. 1: 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1006/brln.1997.1923.
10.1006/brln.1997.1923
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Buxbaum, L. J., A. D. Shapiro, and H. B. Coslett. 2014. “Critical Brain Regions for Tool-Related and Imitative Actions: A Componential Analysis.” Brain. 137: 1971–1985.
10.1093/brain/awu111
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Caramazza, A., and A. Hillis. 1991. “Lexical Organisation of Nouns and Verbs in the Brain.” Nature 349: 788–790.
10.1038/349788a0
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Cohen, J. 1988. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. Routledge Academic.
10.1046/j.1526-4610.2001.111006343.x
Google Scholar
Cortese, M. J., D. A. Balota, S. D. Sergent-Marshall, R. L. Buckner, and B. T. Gold. 2006. “Consistency and Regularity in Past-tense Verb Generation in Healthy Ageing, Alzheimer's Disease, and Semantic Dementia.” Cognitive Neuropsychology 23, no. 6: 856–876. https://doi.org/10.1080/02643290500483124.
10.1080/02643290500483124
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Courson, M., and P. Tremblay. 2020. “Neural Correlates of Manual Action Language: Comparative Review, ALE Meta-Analysis and ROI Meta-Analysis.” Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 116: 221‑-238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.06.025.
10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.06.025
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Crawford, J. R., and P. H. Garthwaite. 2009. “Percentiles Please: The Case for Expressing Neuropsychological Test Scores and Accompanying Confidence Limits as Percentile Ranks'.” Clinical Neuropsychologist 23: no. 2: 193–204. https://doi.org/10.1080/13854040801968450.
10.1080/13854040801968450
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Damasio, A. R., and D. Tranel. 1993. “Nouns and Verbs Are Retrieved With Differently Distributed Neural Systems.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 90: 4957–4960.
10.1073/pnas.90.11.4957
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Daniele, A., L. Giustolisi, M. C. Silveri, C. Colosimo, and G. Gainotti. 1994. “Evidence for a Possible Neuroanatomical Basis for Lexical Processing of Nouns and Verbs.” Neuropsychologia 32: 1325–1341.
10.1016/0028-3932(94)00066-2
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
De Bleser, R., and C. Kauschke. 2003. “Acquisition and Loss of Nouns and Verbs: Parallel or Divergent Patterns?” Journal of Neurolinguistics 16, no. 2–3: 213–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0911-6044(02)00015-5.
10.1016/S0911-6044(02)00015-5
Google Scholar
Den Ouden, D. B., S. Fix, T. B. Parrish, and C. K. Thompson. 2009. “Argument Structure Effects in Action Verb Naming in Static and Dynamic Conditions.” Journal of Neurolinguistics 22, no. 2: 196–215.
10.1016/j.jneuroling.2008.10.004
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Druks, J., and T. Shallice. 2000. “Selective Preservation of Naming From Description and the Restricted Preverbal Message.” Brain and Language 72, no. 2: 100–128. https://doi.org/10.1006/brln.1999.2165.
10.1006/brln.1999.2165
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Gallese, V., and G. Lakoff. 2005. “The Brain's Concepts: The Role of the Sensory-Motor System in Conceptual Knowledge.” Cognitive Neuropsychology 22, no. 3‑-4: 455-‑479. https://doi.org/10.1080/02643290442000310.
10.1080/02643290442000310
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Gorno-Tempini, M. L., A. E. Hillis, S. Weintraub, et al. 2011. “Classification of Primary Progressive Aphasia and Its Variants.” Neurology 76: 1006–1014.
10.1212/WNL.0b013e31821103e6
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Guilmette, T. J., J. J. Sweet, N. Hebben, et al. 2020. “American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology Consensus Conference Statement on Uniform Labeling of Performance Test Scores.” Clinical Neuropsychologist 34, no. 3: 437–453. https://doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2020.1722244.
10.1080/13854046.2020.1722244
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Hammelrath, C. 2001. “ DVL-38: Test de dénomination des verbes lexicaux.” Ortho-Edition.
Google Scholar
Hebben, N., and W. Milberg. 2009. In Essentials of Neuropsychological Assessment. 2nd ed., edited by A. S. Kaufman and N. L. Kaufman. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Web of Science® Google Scholar
Hutchinson, A. D., and J. L. Mathias. 2007. “Neuropsychological Deficits in Frontotemporal Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease: A Meta-Analytic Review.” Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 78: 917–928.
10.1136/jnnp.2006.100669
CAS Web of Science® Google Scholar
Kaplan, E., H. Goodglass, and S. Weintraub. 1983. “ The Boston Naming Test.” Lea & Febiger.
Google Scholar
Karalı, F. S., E. İ. Eskioğlu, S. Tosun, N. Çınar, and J. Macoir. 2024. “Turkish Adaptation, Reliability, and Validity of the Detection Test for Language Impairments in Adults and the Aged.” Applied Neuropsychology: Adult 1–8.
10.1080/23279095.2023.2301393
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Kaya, Y., O. E. Aki, U. A. Can, E. Derle, S. Kibaroğlu, and A. Barak. 2014. “Validation of Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Discriminant Power of Montreal Cognitive Assessment Subtests in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer Dementia in Turkish Population.” Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology 27, no. 2: 103–109. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891988714522701.
10.1177/0891988714522701
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Kemmerer, D. 2006. “ Action Verbs, Argument Structure Constructions, and the Mirror Neuron System.” In Action to Language via the Mirror Neuron System, edited by M. A. Arbib, 347–373. Cambridge University Press.
10.1017/CBO9780511541599.011
Web of Science® Google Scholar
Kim, M., and C. K. Thompson. 2004. “Verb Deficits in Alzheimer's Disease and Agrammatism: Implications for Lexical Organization.” Brain and Language 88, no. 1: 1–20.
10.1016/S0093-934X(03)00147-0
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Lukic, S., V. Borghesani, E. Weis, et al. 2021. “Dissociating Nouns and Verbs in Temporal and Perisylvian Networks: Evidence From Neurodegenerative Diseases.” Cortex: A Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior 142: 47–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2021.05.006.
10.1016/j.cortex.2021.05.006
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Macoir, J., S. Routhier, N. Auclair-Ouellet, M. A. Wilson, and C. Hudon. 2023. “Validation of and Normative Data of the DVAQ-30, a New Video-Naming Test for Assessing Verb Anomia.” Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology 38, no. 1: 80–90. https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acac052.
10.1093/arclin/acac052
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Macoir, J., A. Lafay, & C. Hudon. 2019. “Reduced Lexical Access to Verbs in Individuals With Subjective Cognitive Decline.” American journal of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias 34: no. 1: 5–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/1533317518790541.
10.1177/1533317518790541
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Macoir, J., A. Chagnon, C. Hudon, M. Lavoie, and M. A. Wilson. 2021. “TDQ-30 – A New Color Picture-Naming Test for the Diagnostic of Mild Anomia: Validation and Normative Data in Quebec French Adults and Elderly.” Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology 36: 267–280. https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acz048.
10.1093/arclin/acz048
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Maviş, İ., A. M. Tunçer, S. Selvi-Balo, S. D. Tokaç, and Ş. Özdemir. 2021. “The Adaptation Process of the Comprehensive Aphasia Test Into CAT-Turkish: Psycholinguistic and Clinical Considerations.” Aphasiology 36, no. 4: 493–512. https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2021.1923947.
10.1080/02687038.2021.1923947
Web of Science® Google Scholar
Mätzig, S., J. Druks, J. Masterson, G. Vigliocco. 2009. “Noun and Verb Differences in Picture Naming: Past Studies and New Evidence.” Cortex: A Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior 45, no. 6: 738–758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2008.10.003.
10.1016/j.cortex.2008.10.003
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
McKhann, G. M., D. S. Knopman, H. Chertkow, et al. 2011. “The Diagnosis of Dementia due to Alzheimer's Disease: Recommendations From the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association Workgroups on Diagnostic Guidelines for Alzheimer's Disease.” Alzheimer's & Dementia 7, no. 3: 263–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2011.03.005.
10.1016/j.jalz.2011.03.005
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Nasreddine, Z. S., N. A. Phillips, V. Bédirian, et al. 2005. “The Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA: A Brief Screening Tool for Mild Cognitive Impairment.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 53, no. 4: 695–699. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53221.x.
10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.53221.x
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Namdar Khatibani, M., A. Mehri, S. Jalaie, M. Dastjerdi Kazemi. 2022. “Developing Verb Picture Naming Test for Persian Adults and Determining Its Psychometric Properties.” Applied Neuropsychology: Adult 29, no. 3: 373–382. https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2020.1762085.
10.1080/23279095.2020.1762085
PubMed Google Scholar
Nickels, L. 1997. Spoken Word Production and Its Breakdown in Aphasia. Psychology Press/Erlbaum (UK) Taylor & Francis.
Google Scholar
Ntemou, E., A. K. Ohlerth, S. Ille, S. M. Krieg, R. Bastiaanse, and A. Rofes. 2021. “Mapping Verb Retrieval With nTMS: The Role of Transitivity.” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 15: 719461. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2021.719461.
10.3389/fnhum.2021.719461
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Papagno, C., A. Casarotti, B. Zarino, and D. Crepaldi. 2020. “A New Test of Action Verb Naming: Normative Data From 290 Italian Adults.” Neurological Sciences 41: 2811–2817.
10.1007/s10072-020-04353-1
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Robinson, K. M., M. Grossman, T. White-Devine, and M. D'Esposito. 1996. “Category-Specific Difficulty Naming With Verbs in Alzheimer's Disease.” Neurology 47, no. 1: 178–182.
10.1212/WNL.47.1.178
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Rofes, A., and B. Z. Mahon. 2021. “ Naming: Nouns and Verbs.” In Intraoperative Mapping of Cognitive Networks: Which Tasks for Which Locations, edited by E. Mandonnet and G. Herbet, 171–194. Springer.
10.1007/978-3-030-75071-8_11
Google Scholar
Rohrer, J. D., W. D. Knight, J. E. Warren, N. C. Fox, M. N. Rossor, and J. D. Warren. 2008. “Word-Finding Difficulty: A Clinical Analysis of the Progressive Aphasias.” Brain: A Journal of Neurology 131, pt. 1: 8–38. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awm251
10.1093/brain/awm251
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Rosselli, M., and A. Ardila. 2003. “The Impact of Culture and Education on Non-Verbal Neuropsychological Measurements: A Critical Review.” Brain and Cognition 52: 326–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0278-2626(03)00170-2.
10.1016/S0278-2626(03)00170-2
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Sörös, P., K. Cornelissen, M. Laine, and R. Salmelin. 2003. “Naming Actions and Objects: Cortical Dynamics in Healthy Adults and in an Anomic Patient With a Dissociation in Action/Object Naming.” Neuroimage 19, no. 4: 1787–1801.
10.1016/S1053-8119(03)00217-9
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Soylu, A. E., and B. Cangöz. 2018. “Adaptation and Norm Determination Study of the Boston Naming Test for Healthy Turkish Elderly.” Noro Psikiyatri Arsivi 55, no. 4: 341–348. https://doi.org/10.5152/npa.2017.19331.
10.5152/npa.2017.19331
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Szekely, A., S. Damico, A. Devescovi, et al. 2005. “Timed Action and Object Naming.” Cortex: A Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior 41, no. 1: 7–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0010-9452(08)70174-6.
10.1016/S0010-9452(08)70174-6
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Taler, V., and N. A. Phillips. 2008. “Language Performance in Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Comparative Review.” Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology 30: 501–556.
10.1080/13803390701550128
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
The Jamovi Project. 2021. “ Jamovi (Version 1.8.1).” The Jamovi Project. [Computer Software]. https://www.jamovi.org.
Google Scholar
Tomczak, M., and E. Tomczak. 2014. “The Need to Report Effect Size Estimates Revisited.” Trends in Sport Sciences 1: 19–25.
Google Scholar
Vigliocco, G., D. P. Vinson, J. Druks, H. Barber, and S. F. Cappa. 2011. “Nouns and Verbs in the Brain: A Review of Behavioural, Electrophysiological, Neuropsychological and Imaging Studies.” Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 35, no. 3: 407–426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.04.007.
10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.04.007
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Williams, E., C. Theys, and M. McAuliffe. 2023. “Lexical-Semantic Properties of Verbs and Nouns Used in Conversation by People With Alzheimer's Disease.” PLoS ONE 18, no. 8: e0288556. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288556.
10.1371/journal.pone.0288556
CAS PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar
Wurm, M. F., G. Ariani, M. W. Greenlee, and A. Lingnau. 2016. “Decoding Concrete and Abstract Action Representations During Explicit and Implicit Conceptual Processing.” Cerebral Cortex 26, no. 8: 3390–3401.
10.1093/cercor/bhv169
PubMed Web of Science® Google Scholar

Volume60, Issue4

July/August 2025

e70068

Turkish Version of the Video-Naming Test for Assessing Verb Anomia (DVAQ-30): Normative Data for the Adult Turkish Population and Validation Study in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease

ABSTRACT

Objective

Method

Results

Conclusions

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS

Conflicts of Interest

Open Research

Data Availability Statement

References

References

Information

About Wiley Online Library

Help & Support

Opportunities

Connect with Wiley

Turkish Version of the Video-Naming Test for Assessing Verb Anomia (DVAQ-30): Normative Data for the Adult Turkish Population and Validation Study in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease

ABSTRACT

Objective

Method

Results

Conclusions

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS

Conflicts of Interest

Open Research

Data Availability Statement

References

References

Related

Information