RECENT AND PAST MEMORY

The provider will ask questions related to recent people, places, and events in the person's life or in the world.

Three items may be presented, and the person may then be asked to repeat them, and then recall them after 5 minutes.

The provider will ask about the person's childhood, school, or events that occurred earlier in life.

LANGUAGE FUNCTION

The provider will point to everyday items in the room and ask the person to name them, and possibly to name less common items.

The person may be asked to follow a 1-step, 2-step, and 3-step instruction.

The provider may ask the person to say as many words as possible that start with a certain letter, or that are part of a certain category, in 1 minute.

The person may be asked to read or write a sentence.

JUDGMENT

To test the person's judgment and ability to solve a problem or situation, the provider might ask questions such as:

• "If you found a driver's license on the ground, what would you do?"
• "If a police officer approached you from behind in a car with lights flashing, what would you do?"

No preparation is necessary for these tests.

There is no physical discomfort. Some people might find it stressful to answer all of the questions. Difficulties answering could lead to frustration.

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Review Date: 03/09/2010
Reviewed By: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)