Mental status tests are used to see whether a disease or condition is affecting a person's thinking abilities. The tests can also reveal whether a person's mental condition is improving or getting worse.
Alternative Names
Memory; Word comprehension; Orientation; Attention span; Cognitive tests
How the test is performed
The following tests may be performed.
ORIENTATION
The health care provider will ask questions that may include:
- The time, date, and season
- The place where the person lives, type of building, city and state
- The person's name, age, and occupation
ATTENTION SPAN
The provider will test the person's ability to complete a thought. This may be evident through conversation, or the person may be asked to follow a series of directions.
RECENT MEMORY
The provider will ask questions related to recent people, places, and events in the person's life or in the world.
REMOTE MEMORY
The provider will ask about the person's childhood, school, or historical events that occurred earlier in life.
WORD COMPREHENSION
The provider will point to everyday items in the room and ask the person to name them.
JUDGMENT
To test the person's judgment and ability to exercise alternative solutions to a given problem or situation, the provider might ask questions such as, "What would you do if a police officer approached from behind in a car with lights flashing?" or "If you found a driver's license on the ground, what would you do?"
How to prepare for the test
No preparation is necessary for these tests. All responses should be natural, spontaneous, and honest. Preparation, especially by a highly intelligent person, could distort the results of the test by making it appear that cognitive function has not diminished when, in fact, it actually has.
How the test will feel
There is no physical discomfort.
Why the test is performed
