Cognitive tests

Alternative names:

attention span; orientation; recent memory; remote memory; word comprehension

How the test is performed:

Orientation:
Your health care provider will ask you all or some of the following questions:

• the time, date, and season
• the place where you live, type of building you are in, city and state you are in
• your name, age, and your occupation

Attention Span:
Your health care provider will test your ability to complete a thought. This may be evident through conversation, or he may ask you to follow a series of directions, and base his conclusions on your performance.

Recent Memory:
This is the memory of people, places, and events that have recently occurred in your life. Your health care provider can easily test your remote memory by asking you questions related to recent events in your life or the world around you.

Remote Memory:
This is the memory of people, places, and events that occurred earlier in your life. Your health care provider can test your remote memory by asking about your childhood, school, or historical events that occurred earlier in your life.

Word Comprehension:
This tests your knowledge of common items. Your health care provider will point to every day items in the room and have you name them.

Judgment:
This test measures your judgment and ability to exercise alternative solutions to a given problem or situation. For example, your health care provider might ask you "what would you do if a police officer approached from behind in a car with lights flashing?" or "if you found a drivers license on the ground what would you do?"

How to prepare for the test:

No preparation is necessary for this test, all responses should be natural, spontaneous, and honest.

How the test will feel:

There is no physical discomfort.

Why the test is performed:

These tests are screening tools for cognitive impairment, and supply your health care provider with an objective measure of improvement.