German/Swiss version
The German/Swiss-German version of ECAS was established in 2014. It adopts the English tasks and was additionally adjusted to cultural and linguistic specificities. Respectively, a German and a Swiss-German version with marginal distinctions were developed. The German/Swiss-German version of the ECAS was validated in a sample of N=139 ALS patients and N=160 healthy controls.
Due to the experiences of the validation study, the ECAS was adjusted (all adjustments of the ECAS are mentioned below) and another validation in a sample of N=84 healthy controls was performed. The standard values for the revised German/Swiss-German version of the ECAS can be found further below
Most important modifications in the German/Swiss-German translation of ECAS
• Naming: According to the frequency of objects in the respective culture the images were replaced
(igloo instead of bow, hedgehog instead of fox).
• Comprehension: Specialization of the phrasing Giftstachel (poison sting) instead of Stachel (sting)
• Memory: German version: Fahrrad (bike) – Swiss-German version: Velo (bike);
Dieter Keller instead of Douglas Watt
• Spelling:
German version:
- Plätzchen (cookie)
- Holzhacken (to chuck wood)
Swiss-German version:
- Guetzli (cake)
- Spalten (to split wood)
• Fluency: Adjustment of the conversion table
Letter G instead of T for restricted fluency. Extension of time for task from 60 to 120 for free verbal
fluency letter S and and 90 to 180 seconds for restricted fluency G.
• Sentence completion: Sarah instead of Sally; Joseph instead of John; restaurant instead of Café
• Recognition: photographer instead of local council
The translation into the different languages should always be performed according to the guidelines.
Link for the German guidelines: Download PDF