Cognitive Testing
In-Office Cognitive Assessments for Memory, Thinking, and Brain Function
Neurological Medicine, P.A. offers in-office cognitive screening tests for adult care. Cognitive tests are an important part of neurological care and treatment to help assess cognitive function. During a cognitive assessment, memory, learning, and thinking are all evaluated.
Cognitive assessments are non-invasive and painless. They often involve reciting the date, naming ordinary objects, counting backward, memorizing a short list of words, and drawing standard shapes from memory.
If you have been recommended a cognitive assessment, contact Neurological Medicine, P.A. to set up your appointment. We are based in Maryland and have two offices for easy scheduling: Greenbelt, MD and Laurel, MD. New patients are asked to review our New Patient Resource page for all info prior to their appointment.
What is Cognitive Testing
Cognitive testing is an assessment to evaluate memory, thinking, judgment, and learning abilities, most commonly in adults. Cognitive assessments help determine if there is any cognitive impairment, as found with dementia or Alzheimer’s, but can be due to many other causes.
A cognitive test generally consists of answering questions, recalling the date, memorizing a short list of words, counting backward, or drawing common images from memory. These tests are done in-office, are noninvasive, and are painless.
Cognitive testing alone cannot diagnose an illness or disorder. However, cognitive testing can provide your doctor critical information for finding a diagnosis or evaluating a disease’s progression. The information gathered can shape treatment plans and help improve the quality of life for those afflicted, family members, and caregivers.
When preparing for a cognitive assessment, you will most commonly hear about the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), and the Mini-Cog. These tests are the most used tests in cognitive assessments but are not the only evaluations used. They test memory, present awareness, and overall recall. Your physician may include or omit other cognitive assessments as needed.
What Happens During a Cognitive Test
During a cognitive assessment, you will be seen in one of our office locations. There are no alterations to your general daily habits to prepare for a cognitive assessment. You will be asked a series of questions by a trained member of our staff and the test can range from 15 to 30 minutes. At the end of the test, you will receive a score that helps us determine how to advise on your care going forward and evaluate any pending diagnoses.
Here is what you can expect the questions to cover during your assessment; these may range based on each individual’s cognitive function and suspected cause:
- Present Knowledge, including date, location, and your name
- Attention, recalling a short list of items immediately
- Concentration, like the ability to spell and count forwards and backward
- Short Term Recall, repeating back items you were asked to memorize
- Short Term Memory, recalling recent events
- Long Term Memory, recalling events from years ago
- Abstract Thinking, including common idioms or analogies and what they mean
- Language Function, writing and speaking
- Language Comprehension, responding to action requests
- Relationship Understanding, as in houses, clocks, or other objects you interact with
- Basic Actions, like washing your hands or brushing your teeth
- Basic Math, including addition or subtraction
- Judgement, examples include if you find a wallet or see someone injured
What Causes Cognitive Impairment
Cognitive impairment is generally found in older patients but is not a part of aging. If you notice cognitive impairment, it is due to an underlying issue. Although most people know cognitive impairment from dementia or Alzheimer’s, cognitive impairment can also be a side effect of UTIs, medications, and even depression or other mood disorders.
Understanding the depth of the cognitive impairment can help track it, find the cause, and create a treatment plan if it is due to a curable illness or disorder. Cognitive impairment without a cure should still be monitored closely to track the progression and create care plans.
- Dementia
- Alzheimer’s
- UTIs
- Depression and Other Mood Disorders
- Concussion or Other Head Injuries
- Stroke
- Vitamin Deficiency
- Sleep Disorders
- Hypothyroidism
Who Needs Cognitive Assessments
The most common patients for cognitive tests are seniors who believe they are experiencing age-related memory and cognitive issues. However, old age alone is not a cause for cognitive impairment. At Neurological Medicine, P.A., we see patients for cognitive testing due to disorders, trauma accidents, tumors or lesions, medication side effects, and more.
If you are worried about your cognitive function, consider how often you forget appointments or important events, how often you lose daily items, if your recall function has deteriorated either for short-term memory or long-term events, or if you find your judgment, language, or basic function skills have been compromised.
How Can a Cognitive Evaluation Help My Treatment
For curable ailments, a cognitive assessment helps determine the severity of the impairment and helps pinpoint what could be the cause and create a treatment plan. For uncurable disorders or diseases, a cognitive test helps track the severity of the progression. Understanding how the cognitive impairment is appearing can give caregivers a direction for what to do and how to best help their loved ones.
- Tailor and tweak treatment plans for best outcome
- Early detection and tracking of progression
- Decreased anxiety about what the body/mind is experiencing
- Test results can be used for submission to clinical trials
- Help make decisions early about care, living arrangements, and financial decisions
- Access to more care options
Why Work with Neurological Medicine, P.A. for Cognitive Tests
Since 1975, Neurological Medicine, P.A. has been dedicated to patient care. We have outstanding neurologists on our staff who excel in diagnoses, treatment, and bedside manner. With two office locations in Maryland, one in Greenbelt and one in Laurel, we hope to exceed your expectations when it comes to neurological care.
Easy Scheduling
Schedule online or call one of our offices to set up your appointments and find documentation easy
Attentive Staff
We care about you, your treatment, and your experience to make you as comfortable as possible
Non-Invasive Testing
Along with cognitive assessments, we offer other noninvasive tests to help fully understand your condition
Schedule Your Cognitive Test Appointment With Us
For new patients, setting up a cognitive test with Neurological Medicine, P.A. is simple and easy. We have two locations in Maryland: Greenbelt and Laurel. Call our office or send us an appointment request online. You can find all of our new patient documentation on our New Patient resource page, along with insurance coverage information.
It is advised before any appointment to call your insurance company to review coverage, minimum deductibles, payment schedules, and more. We ask all patients to bring a government-issued ID, a copy of medical records, any medications currently taking, and any referrals for the appointment.
Request New Appointment
If you are a new or previous patient, inquire about an appointment date via phone, email, or our contact form.
Ask Us Your Questions and Concerns
Give us a call regarding insurance, services, and more. Physicians can send us referrals here.
Cognitive Test Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cognitive screening test?
A cognitive screening test is an assessment of your cognitive function, including thinking, learning, understanding language, memory, recall, attention, reasoning, judgment, and decision-making. It uses basic questions to evaluate these parts of cognitive function. It is non-invasive.
Is a cognitive test an IQ test?
No, a cognitive screening is not an IQ test. Cognitive function is basic skills like language usage, reasoning, attention, memory, and judgment. It is not how intelligent a person is.
What is the meaning of cognitive evaluation?
A cognitive evaluation can help physicians assess or diagnose disorders or illnesses. It can track impairment for better treatment plans and help patients get the resources they need for an improved quality of life.
Can I do a cognitive test at home?
While some websites do offer cognitive screening tests at home, it is advised to always work with a professional physician or nurse for your cognitive test. Professional cognitive tests can provide feedback and results you can count on plus resources, professional consultations, and treatment plans if there is any suspected impairment.