A version of the category fluency test including
the categories of animal and transportation, was administered
to 316 Chinese native speakers ranging in age from 7 to
95. Results indicated that the number of items generated
in the category fluency test increases with age from childhood
to adulthood with a peak performance in adults aged from
19 to 30, and then declines subsequently into late life.
All participants, regardless of their age, generated more
animal than transportation names. Educational level, but
not gender, was a significant factor affecting their performance.
The participants in all age groups committed very few intrusion
and perseveration errors. The results of the present study
were in general consistent with those reported in the western
countries. Thus, it seems to be appropriate to apply the
category fluency test, which was originally developed in
western countries, for clinical use in Hong Kong. (JINS,
1999, 5, 525–533.)