Overview
Attention and concentration are essential cognitive functions that enable individuals to focus on tasks and process information. Key components of assessment include distractibility and digit span.
Distractability
How to Assess
- Serial sevens - ask the patient to subtract 7 from 100. Ask them to repeat this subtraction five times.
- DLROW - ask the patient to spell WORLD backward.
- Months - ask the patient to recite the months of the year backward.
Causes of Distractability
- Normal behaviour
- Mania
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Psychosis
- Advanced age
Digit Span
How to Assess
- Tell the patient a series of numbers and ask them to immediately repeat them back. Start with three digits (e.g. 6 2 3) and increase until the patient is unable to repeat them back correctly.
Normal Span
- 6 ± 1 digits
Causes of Impairment
- Delirium
- Dementia
- Aphasia
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