Attention and Concentration

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

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II. Definitions

  1. Attention
    1. Attends for short periods of time despite minor stimuli
  2. Concentration
    1. Attends for longer periods of time

III. 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

IV. Interpretation

  1. Significant deficits in attention are typically of organic cause
  2. Anxiety or Psychosis-related interrupted thoughts may also affect attention

V. Resources

  1. Forensic Neuropsychology
    1. http://www.william-rinn.net/the-reliable-digit-span-test.html

VI. 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

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Related Studies

Ontology: Attention (C0004268)

Definition (ICF) Specific mental functions of focusing on an external stimulus or internal experience for the required period of time.
Definition (ICF-CY) Specific mental functions of focusing on an external stimulus or internal experience for the required period of time.
Definition (MSHCZE) Soustředění na určité stránky aktuálního prožívání s vyloučením těch ostatních. Je to akt věnování pozornosti, všímání nebo koncentrace.
Definition (NAN) Mental readiness to notice or observe
Definition (MSH) Focusing on certain aspects of current experience to the exclusion of others. It is the act of heeding or taking notice or concentrating.
Definition (PSY) Condition of perceptual or cognitive awareness of or focusing on some aspect of one's environment. Compare ATTENTION SPAN and VIGILANCE.
Definition (CSP) selection and perception of a certain stimulus or of a range of stimuli composing a part of a complex stimulus situation; concentration of the mental powers upon an object; a close or careful observing or listening.
Concepts Mental Process (T041)
MSH D001288
SnomedCT 6769007, 247759001
English Attention, Attentions, Attention, function, Attention functions, Attention functions, unspecified, attentions, attention, Attention (finding), Attention, function (observable entity), Attention, NOS, Attention (function), Attention [Ambiguous]
Spanish atención, función, atención (entidad observable), atención (función), atención, función (entidad observable), atención, Atención
Swedish Uppmärksamhet
Czech pozornost
Finnish Attentio
Russian INTERFERENTSIONNYI OTVET, SOSREDOTOCHENNOST', VNIMANIE, ВНИМАНИЕ, ИНТЕРФЕРЕНЦИОННЫЙ ОТВЕТ, СОСРЕДОТОЧЕННОСТЬ
Croatian PAŽNJA
Polish Uwaga
Norwegian Oppmerksomhet
French Attention
German Aufmerksamkeit
Italian Attenzione
Dutch Aandacht
Portuguese Atenção
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Ontology: Ability to concentrate (C0424098)

Concepts Finding (T033)
SnomedCT 247760006
English Ability to concentrate, Ability to concentrate (observable entity), Concentration ability
Spanish capacidad para concentrarse (entidad observable), capacidad para concentrarse
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Ontology: Ability to direct attention (C0566190)

Concepts Finding (T033)
SnomedCT 288768002
English Ability to direct attention, Ability to direct attention (observable entity)
Spanish capacidad para dirigir la atención (entidad observable), capacidad para dirigir la atención, capacidad para prestar atención
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Related Topics in Examination

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