Cognitive tests
Alternative names:
attention span; orientation; recent memory; remote memory; word comprehension
Normal values:
- orientation to person, place, and time
- a normal attention span
- intact recent memory
- intact remote memory
- normal word comprehension, reading, and writing
- intact judgment
What abnormal results mean:
Orientation:
Typically, orientation is first lost to time, then place, then person.
There are many possible causes for disorientation: - alcohol intoxication
- low blood sugar
- head trauma or injury-- concussion
- fluid and electrolyte imbalance
- nutritional deficiencies--particularly lack of niacin, thiamine, vitamin C or vitamin B-12.
- hyperthermia (fever)
- hypothermia--drop in body temperature can cause sudden confusion.
- hypoxemia--chronic pulmonary disorders can produce persistent confusion
- environmental (such as heat stroke, heavy metal poisoning, hypothermia, or methanol intoxication)
- Drugs (such as atropine, chloroquine, cimetidine, CNS depressants in large doses, cycloserine, digitalis medicines - oral, indomethacin, lidocaine, withdrawal from narcotics and barbiturates)
- organic brain disease
Attention Span:
If you are unable to complete a thought, or are easily distracted by other stimuli, you may have an abnormal attention span. This may have a number of causes, a few examples are: Recent and Remote Memory:
Organic syndromes are indicated if there is a loss of recent memory, but remote memory remains intact. Remote memory is lost when there is damage to the upper part of the brain as occurs in Alzheimer's disease. See also memory loss.
Word Comprehension, Reading, and Writing:
These tests screen for aphasia. Some causes for aphasia include: Judgment:
We exercise judgment in all of our daily activities, and the ability to determine an appropriate course of action is vital to survival in many situations. For example, do you run across the tracts to beat a train? A poor decision in such a case could mean your life. The following are some causes of impaired judgment:
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