Psychometric properties of aphasia-related outcome measurement instruments in Chinese speakers: a systematic review of English and Chinese literature

Background People with aphasia experience difficulties in communication, presenting a common clinical challenge. Many instruments have been developed and validated to guide aphasia diagnosis and treatment. A comprehensive review of aphasia assessment tools for Chinese speakers is needed to identify tools with robust psychometric properties and to advance global consensus on aphasia measurement.Aim This review sought to summarize the measurement properties of existing aphasia-related instruments in Chinese speakers.Methods and Procedures Following a pre-registered protocol on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database (registration number CRD420251055822), PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, and three Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang Data and the Chinese Medical Journal Network) were searched from their inception to December 2024 to identify aphasia-related instruments that reported measurement properties in Chinese speakers. The measurement properties were extracted on Cronbach’s α, test-retest reliability, interrater reliability, and criterion validity. The risk of bias was assessed using the COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist, and the quality of evidence for measurement properties was evaluated using the COSMIN methodology for systematic reviews.Outcomes and Results A total of 41 publications (20 written in Chinese and 21 in English) with 26 instruments were identified for aphasia screening, diagnosis, linguistic assessment, neuropsychological profiling, and quality of life. Most studies (n = 32) focused on people with post-stroke aphasia. The quality assessment results and overall rating of the psychometric properties varied, with most instruments received high-evidence reliability but nearly half failed to meet the quality standard of reporting internal consistency and criterion validity. Limitations of the evidence included variable risk of bias across studies, inconsistent validity results, and inadequate internal consistency reporting.Conclusion Many Chinese instruments for people with aphasia have been developed, primarily targeting language, cognition and mood. Further research is warranted to enhance the quality and utility of Chinese assessment tools in clinic and research.