TABLE 6-2.
Sample Questions for Gathering History of Cognitive/Behavioral Change
| Cognitive domain as probed in history | Questions to aska |
|---|---|
| Language | Does the patient: |
| Seem to search for words in conversation while speaking? | |
| Say the wrong words or sounds within a word? | |
| Have trouble understanding single words or conversation despite normal hearing? | |
|
| |
| Episodic memory | Despite normal ability to speak and understand language, does the patient: |
| Forget important events, appointments? | |
| Forget something they did last week? | |
| Repeatedly ask questions or make the same comment unaware that it was just made? | |
|
| |
| Visuospatial functions | Does the patient: |
| Seem to not see objects in full view despite normal visual acuity? | |
| Misplace or misreach for items on a tabletop? | |
| Bump into things frequently? | |
|
| |
| Reasoning/judgment | Does the patient: |
| Have poor decision-making ability or judgment (eg, was scammed)? | |
| Have the ability to respond appropriately in an emergency? | |
| Seem unaware of the social context, such as showing inappropriate behavior in a setting (eg, laughing out loud at a funeral)? | |
a
Questions may be directed to the patient, an informant, or both. In cases in which a patient is unaware of deficits, differences may be seen in the responses of the patient and the informant.