Level of Consciousness
Assess along a continuum:
- Alert: Responds to normal verbal commands.
- Lethargic: Responds only to loud verbal commands.
- Obtunded: Responds to touch (e.g. patting on shoulder).
- Stuporous: Responds to noxious stimuli only (e.g. sternal rub).
- Coma: Does not respond to noxious stimuli.
Mini-Mental State Exam
Each category is scored according to the number of points listed after it in parentheses.
Time Orientation (5):
- What is the year?
- Season?
- Month of the year?
- Date?
- Day of the Week?
Place Orientation (5):
- Where are we now? What is the state?
- City?
- Part of the city?
- Building?
- Floor of the building?
Registration of Three Words (3):
- Listen carefully. I am going to say three words. You say them back after I stop. Ready? Here they are:
- PONY, (wait one second)
- QUARTER, (wait 1 second)
- ORANGE (wait 1 second).
- What were these words? Repeat them until the patient learns all three.
Attention and Calculation (5):
- Subtract 7 from 100 and continue to subtract 7 from each subsequent remainder until I tell you to stop.
- What is 100 take away 7?
- Keep Going, x5.
- ALTERNATIVELY: Please spell WORLD backwards. D-L-R-O-W
Recall (3):
- What were those three words I asked you to remember?
Naming (2):
- What is this? (show pencil)
- What is this? (show watch)
Repetition (1):
- Now I am going to ask you to repeat what I say. Ready? No ifs, ands, or buts. Now you say that.
Comprehension (3):
- Listen carefully because I am going to ask you to do something.
- Take this paper in your left hand, fold it in half, and put it on the floor.
Reading (1):
- Please read the following and do what it says, but do not say it aloud.
- Write CLOSE YOUR EYES on the paper and have the patient read and do it.
Writing (1):
- Please write a sentence.
- Please write about the weather.
Drawing (1):
- Please copy this design:
Total Score is out of 30 points