Corsi Visual Span 

What does it assess?

• Visual short term memory. 

Who is it suitable for?

• Child or adult with acquired or developmental disabilities. 

Who is it not suitable for?

• People with severe physical disability or dyspraxia that precludes the ability to point. 

How is it administered?

• The person is asked to point to sequences of blocks, of increasing sequence length, after the examiner.  

How is it scored/ interpreted? 

• Speech pathologist records response  and scores according to the longest visual span copied.
• For each trial, a lenient score is given if the person points to all blocks  (without any additional) but not in the same order; a stringent score is given if the order is the same as that of the examiner. 

What is its availability?

• Requires only a score sheet, template and blocks – included in the kit. 

How does it contribute to a communication assessment for someone with behaviours of concern?

• Visual short term memory has been associated with both receptive and expressive language. Information about this aspect of memory contributes to a communication profile and also informs interventions that rely on the use of graphic communication systems.
• Information from this test with that from the test of auditory short term memory (Digit Span) provides information on whether the person is better able to process visual versus auditory sequential information (e.g., sign/ graphic symbols vs speech). 

References:

Chapman, R., & Hesketh, L. (2001). Language, cognition, and short-term memory in individuals with Down syndrome. Down Syndrome Research and Practice, 7, 1-7.

Jarrold, C., Baddeley, A., & Phillips, C. (2002). Verbal short-term memory in Down syndrome: A problem of memory, audition, or speech? Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 45, 531-544.