Table 2.
List of the 39 items included in the Cognitive Difficulties Scale
| Item order | Factor 1 | Factor 2 | Factor 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. I have trouble recalling frequently used phone numbers | −0.037 | 0.547 | −0.04 |
| 2. I put down things (glasses, keys, wallet, papers) and have trouble finding them | 0.104 | 0.473 | −0.056 |
| 3. When interrupted while reading, I have trouble finding my place again | 0.526 | 0.176 | −0.095 |
| 4. I need a written list when I do errands to avoid forgetting things | 0.09 | 0.607 | −0.208 |
| 5. I forget appointments, dates or classes | −0.008 | 0.679 | 0.022 |
| 6. I forget to return phone calls | −0.055 | 0.48 | 0.281 |
| 7. I have trouble getting my keys into a lock | n/i | n/i | n/i |
| 8. I forget errands I planned to do on my way | 0.215 | 0.474 | 0.007 |
| 9. I have trouble recalling names of people I know | 0.398 | 0.375 | −0.121 |
| 10. I find it hard to keep my mind on a task or a job | 0.6 | −0.02 | 0.111 |
| 11. I have trouble describing a program I just watched on television | 0.69 | 0.129 | −0.152 |
| 12. I do not say quite what I mean | 0.475 | 0.055 | 0.134 |
| 13. I fail to recognize people I know | 0.393 | 0.037 | 0.145 |
| 14. I have trouble getting out information that is at the tip of my tongue | 0.539 | 0.017 | −0.005 |
| 15. I have trouble finding the name of objects | 0.449 | −0.071 | 0.369 |
| 16. I find it hard to understand what I read | 0.758 | −0.335 | 0.204 |
| 17. I miss the point of what other people are saying | 0.573 | 0.033 | 0.117 |
| 18. I forget names of people soon after being introduced | 0.372 | 0.319 | −0.014 |
| 19. I lose my train of thought when I listen to somebody else | 0.718 | 0.272 | −0.253 |
| 20. I forget steps in recipes I know well and have to look them up | 0.182 | 0.108 | 0.439 |
| 21. I forget what day of the week it is | −0.082 | 0.672 | 0.102 |
| 22. I forget to button or zip my clothing | n/i | n/i | n/i |
| 23. I need to check or double check whether I locked the door, turned off the stove, and so forth | 0.009 | 0.412 | 0.147 |
| 24. I make mistakes in writing, typing, or operating a calculator | 0.168 | 0.143 | 0.322 |
| 25. I cannot keep my mind on one thing | 0.484 | −0.11 | 0.311 |
| 26. I need to have instructions repeated several times | 0.129 | 0.439 | 0.192 |
| 27. I leave out ingredients when I cook | 0.119 | −0.031 | 0.64 |
| 28. I have trouble manipulating buttons, fasteners, scissors, or bottle caps | 0.073 | −0.105 | 0.719 |
| 29. I misplace my clothing | −0.046 | 0.049 | 0.602 |
| 30. I have trouble sewing or mending | −0.097 | −0.084 | 0.76 |
| 31. I find it hard to keep my mind on what I am reading | 0.667 | 0.004 | 0.031 |
| 32. I forget right away what people say to me | 0.422 | 0.414 | −0.063 |
| 33. When walking or riding, I forget how I had gotten from one place to another | n/i | n/i | n/i |
| 34. I have trouble deciding if I have received the correct change | n/i | n/i | n/i |
| 35. I forget to pay bills, record checks, or mail letters | −0.152 | 0.3 | 0.491 |
| 36. I have to do things very slowly to be sure I am doing them right | 0.017 | 0.251 | 0.411 |
| 37. My mind goes blank at times | 0.194 | 0.456 | 0.047 |
| 38. I forget the date of the month | −0.283 | 0.943 | 0 |
| 39. I have trouble using tools (hammers, pliers, and so forth) for minor household repairs | −0.097 | −0.013 | 0.844 |
NOTE. The three columns on the right show the loading scores resulting from the exploratory factor analysis (see Section 2 for further information). Factor loadings greater than 0.4 are in bold. Four items were not included (n/i) in the factor analysis because of insufficient variability but were still included in item-by-item analyses.