ABSTRACT
Purpose:
to perform the cross-cultural adaptation of the Communication Function Classification System(CFCS) to the Brazilian population and to determine the applicability of the translated version.
Methods:
the study consisted of two phases, the first related to the process of transcultural adaptation by means of translation, semantic analysis of the items and backtranslation, with approval of the final version by the authors of the instrument, and the second consisted of instrument testing by applying it to 40 patients with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
Results:
the final version received the seal of the author of the original instrument and was published by her, along with the original version and all other translations, at http://cfcs.us. Sixty percent of the patients (24) were males and 40% (16) were females, ranging in age from 2 years and 4 months to 28 years and two months, with an average age of 7.7 (± 4 6). The instrument was of rapid and easy application and all communication levels were observed. Eight patients were in Level I, nine inLevel II, two in Level III, 13 inLevel IV and eight in Level V.
Conclusions:
the translated versionof the CFCS adapted to Brazilian Portuguese permitted the classification of daily communication performance of individuals with cerebral palsy into one of five levels of communication. However, further research is needed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Brazilian version of the instrument, in addition to the validation of its psychometric properties before it can be extensively used in clinical and research settings.
Keywords:
Translation; Cerebral Palsy; Communication; LanguageTest; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
