Cognitive Assessment

Question 1

Long-term Retrieval

Answer 1

Measures the consolidation (encoding) of semantic (meaning-based) representations into secondary memory

Deficits: indicate difficulty in recalling relevant information and in learning and retrieving previously stored knowledge

Question 2

Short-term/working memory

Answer 2

Measures cue-dependent search and recoding functions from temporary stores of verbal and numeric information in primary memory

Deficits indicate difficulty in remembering just-imparted instructions or informations; easily overwhelmed by complex or multistep verbal directions

Question 3

Processing Speed

Answer 3

Measures the ability to perform automatically cognitive tasks, particularly when measured under pressure to maintain focused attention

Deficits include: slow in execution of easy cognitive tasks; slow acquisition of new material; tendency to become overwhelmed by complex events; need for extra time in responding even to well practiced tasks; may have difficulty making correct conceptual decisions quickly

Question 4

Auditory Processing

Answer 4

Measures the ability to analyze, synthesize, and discriminate auditory stimuli, including the ability to process and discriminate speech sounds that may be presented under distorted conditions.

Deficits include: speech discrimination problems; poor phonological knowledge; failure to recognize sounds; inability to distinguish speech sounds amid other noises; increased likelihood of misunderstanding complex verbal instructions

Question 5

Visual Processing

Answer 5

Measures the ability to perceive, analyze, synthesize, and think with visual patterns, including the ability to store and recall visual representations.

Deficits in: poor spatial orientation; misperception of object-space relationships; problems remembering visually presented material; tendency to miss subtle visual social and interpersonal cues

Question 6

Comprehension Knowledge

Answer 6

Measures the breadth and depth of a person’s acquired knowledge, the ability to communicate one’s knowledge (esp. verbally), and the ability to reason using previously learned experiences or procedures

Deficits in: lack of information or language skills; or inability to communicate one’s knowledge

Question 7

Fluid Reasoning

Answer 7

Measures the broad ability to reason, form concepts, and solve problems using unfamiliar or novel procedures

Deficits in: grasping abstract concepts; generalizing rules and seeing implications; may have difficulty changing strategies if first approach does not work