Cognitive assessment Flashcards
What are the different areas of cognitive functioning?
Memory Attention/ concentration Calculation Visuospatial Language Executive functioning
What are the various types of memory?
Working (immediate recall of small amounts of information)
Retrograde (recall of previously learnt information)
Anterograde (acquisition of new memories)
What is the difference between explicit and implicit memory?
Explicit = episodic and semantic Implicit = procedural
What is episodic memory?
Memory of autobiographical events
What is semantic memory?
Memory of ideas and concepts not drawn from personal knowledge (“common knowledge” e.g. names of colours)
What is procedural memory?
Long-term memory of motor skills
What is dyspraxia?
Inability to carry out complex motor tasks despite intact motor/ sensory coordination/ comprehension
What is dysphasia?
Language impairment affecting your ability to produce and understand spoken words
What is aphasia?
Language impairment affecting your ability to produce and understand spoken words and the ability to read or write
What is dysarthria?
Language impairment characterised by difficult or unclear articulation of speech
What lobe of the brain is responsible for executive function?
Frontal lobe
What are the basic principles for who should undergo cognitive assessment?
All patients assessed through observation
Bedside testing undertaken if indicated (e.g. if patient presents with poor memory, head injury, reduced attention etc.)
How can working memory be assessed?
Digit span forwards (7 items) or backwards (5 items)
Immediate recall of 10 item list or 7 item name/ address
How can anterograde memory be assessed?
Observation (forgetfulness, repetition) Delayed recall (10 item list or 7 item name/ address)
How can retrograde memory be assessed?
Observation (incoherent history, forgetting past events) Bedside tests (e.g. dates of wars; names of prime ministers etc.)
