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Mini mental state examination

The Mini Mental State Examination tests the following functions:

Function Description
Orientation Awareness of one’s environment with reference to person, time and place.
Memory The ability to learn, retain and recall information.
Attention and concentration Inability to focus on the task in hand and maintain that focus.
Apraxia (Dyspraxia) Inability to carry out skilled motor tasks with normal power, tone and global cognition.
Sensory recognition (Agnosia) Inability to understand the significance of sensory stimuli despite normal intellectual and sensory function
Aphasia(Dysphasia) Inability to speak fluently
Agraphia (Dysgraphia) Inability to write fluently
Acalculia (Dyscalculia) Inability to calculate
Acquired Alexia (Dyslexia) Inability to read fluently
Right - Left Disorientation Inability to differentiate between left and right side of the body
Abstract reasoning Thinking about and cognitively manipulating events, things or concepts that are not in one's immediate presence or environment. Tested by the ability to, for example, interpret a simple proverb or say in what way a car and a boat are similar.
Insight The degree to which a person recognises that he or she is unwell.

A score of 25 - 30 is considered normal.

A score of between 18 - 24 indicates a mild to moderate impairment.

A score of 17 and less indicates a severe impairment.

Note: The above information should be considered together with all the other facts identified about the customer’s condition.

Amended May 2009