Higher Mental Function Examination

Question 1

What is asked in a history of a patient with suspected impairment of higher mental function?

Answer 1

Onset
Memory 
Language
Visuospatial and executive skill s
Visual perception
Personality, mood and appetite

Question 2

Speech - Define:

Dysphasia
Dysarthria
Dysphonia

Answer 2

Impairment of language, function which could either be inability to comprehend or produce spoken or written language.

Abnormal articulation resulting from damage to nerves or the muscles responsible for speech production

Abnormality with the voice producing organs such as vocal cords and resonating sound boxes.

Question 3

Dysphasia:

What does Broca’s area cause?

What does Wernickle’s area cause?

Answer 3

Expressive language

Receptive language

Question 4

What is agnosia

What is apraxia

Answer 4

inability to recognise objects in space, colours, faces or one’s own body parts

inability to undertake a skilled motor act despite intact power, sensation and co-ordination

Question 5

What assessment is used for screening for cognitive impairment?

What assessment is used for assessing acute or chronic confusion?

Answer 5

MoCA - montreal cognitive assessment

AMTS - Abbreviated mental test score