Cognitive testing

The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)

The MMSE is a series of scored questions to assess different mental abilities including short- and long-term memory, attention span, concentration, language and communication skills, ability to plan and ability to understand instructions. It is useful for assessing the changes in a person who has had a stroke or a TIA. In general, scores of 27 or above (out of 30) are considered normal; however, lower scores may occur for many reasons e.g. difficulties with hearing during testing.

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

This is a series of scored questions to assess mild cognitive (thinking) problems, and includes attention, concentration, memory, language, thinking, calculations, and orientation. It is useful for assessing the changes in a person who has had a stroke or a TIA. In general, scores of 26 or above (out of 30) are considered normal; however, lower scores may occur for many reasons e.g. difficulties with hearing during testing.