Exam

Attention and Concentration

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Attention and Concentration, Attention Exam, Attention Ability, Concentration Exam, Concentration Ability, Digit Span Test, Random Letter Test

  • See Also
  1. Mental Status Exam
  2. Appearance, Behavior and Attitude Exam
  3. Higher Integrative Function (Executive Function, Intellectual Function)
  4. Thought Process ( Thought Content, Thought Form, Delusion, Obsession, Abstract Thought)
  5. Speech Exam
  6. Affect Examination
  7. Insight and Judgement
  8. Memory Evaluation
  9. Orientation Exam
  10. Perception Exam ( Misperception, Illusion, Hallucination)
  • Definitions
  1. Attention
    1. Attends for short periods of time despite minor stimuli
  2. Concentration
    1. Attends for longer periods of time
  • Exam
  1. Random Letter Test
    1. Examiner says each letter (one at a time): "S-A-V-E-A-H-A-A-R-T"
    2. Patient raises finger for each of the 4 A's
  2. Digit Span Test
    1. Patient repeats a series of numbers (start with 3 numbers, then 4 numbers, then 5 numbers and then 6 numbers)
    2. Three digits: 7-8-3 (or 5-4-7)
    3. Four digits: 7-9-6-2 (or 4-8-2-5)
    4. Five digits: 6-3-8-1-7 (or 9-4-6-2-1)
    5. Six digits: 4-8-3-9-7-2 (or 6-2-4-1-3-9)
    6. Seven digits: 8-9-2-6-4-1-7 (or 3-1-4-2-6-9-5)
    7. Eight digits: 7-1-9-2-8-3-5-4 (or 6-4-3-9-2-5-7-1)
  3. Other tests (which also test Executive Function)
    1. Serial 7s
    2. Serial 3s
    3. Spell WORLD Backwards
  • Interpretation
  1. Significant deficits in attention are typically of organic cause
  2. Anxiety or Psychosis-related interrupted thoughts may also affect attention
  • Resources
  1. Forensic Neuropsychology
    1. http://www.william-rinn.net/the-reliable-digit-span-test.html
  • References
  1. Zum, Swaminathan and Egan in Herbert (2014) EM:Rap 14(7): 11-13
  2. Tomb (1992) Psychiatry, 4th Ed, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, p. 6-11