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Mental status tests

Alternative Names:

Memory; Word comprehension; Orientation; Attention span; Cognitive tests

Normal Values:

What abnormal results mean:

Each test can identify different possible problems, as described below.

ORIENTATION

Typically, orientation to time is first to be lost, followed by orientation to place, then to person. There are many possible causes for disorientation:

ATTENTION SPAN

People who are unable to complete a thought, or are easily distracted by other stimuli, may have an abnormal attention span. This may have a number of causes, including:

RECENT AND REMOTE MEMORY

An underlying organic medical disorder may cause loss of recent memory when remote memory remains intact. Remote memory is lost when damage to the upper part of the brain occurs in diseases such as Alzheimer's disease . See also memory loss .

WORD COMPREHENSION, READING, AND WRITING

These tests screen for aphasia . Some causes for aphasia include:

JUDGMENT

The ability to determine an appropriate course of action is vital to survival in many situations. The following are some causes of impaired judgment:

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