If your loved one is hard-headed and doesn’t think there is anything wrong with them, then these tests can help them to understand that they may need to talk with their doctor to determine if they may be suffering from memory loss or processing problems.
Clock Drawing Test
Probably the best and most widely used at-home dementia test a person can take to help determine a problem with their memory is the clock drawing test. It is widely used by MDs and dementia specialists to give a quick and simple early diagnosis that could suggest a problem that warrants further investigation into an individuals memory.
Test Instructions: The clock drawing test should be done ideally on a blank piece of 8.5 x 11piece of paper that will allow the person space to draw freely. Ask the person to draw a clock face. Then ask the person to put in all the numbers on the clock face where they belong. Then ask the person to draw the hands onto the clock and give them a time to make the hands read.(ex. “Draw the hands to read 3 o’ clock or “make the time read 10 minutes until 11 o’clock”)
The dementia clock test results should be judged on the following points and each step should be awarded 1 point for each accurate answer:
• How well the person drew the clock circle (is the circle round, symmetrical)? – 1 point
• Has the person included all the numbers 1-12? – 1 point
• Are all the numbers drawn in the correct place on the clock face? – 1 point
• Did they draw 2 hands on the clock (one short hand and one long hand)? – 1 point
• Do the hands on the clock say the correct time you asked them to draw (3:00, 10:50)? –
1 point
Below is an example of clock drawings by a person with dementia:
Dementia Clock Test Results – A normal score for the test is four or five points. Anything less than four points should be a concern.
Word Association Tests
Word association tests can work well in detecting potential memory problems. Difficulty with remembering words or confusing words could indicate a memory impairment. Here are a few examples of word association tests to attempt at home with your loved one:
• Ask the individual taking the test to name all the animals they can think of in one minute.
• Ask the individual to name all the types of fruit they can remember in one minute.
• Ask the individual to name as many girls names as they can think of in one minute.
Test Results – Research has found that a healthy individual should score between 20 to 25 words in the one minute time limit whereas a person who may be experiencing memory problems usually scores between 10 – 15 words in the one minute time allotment.
If you have any concerns about the results of any of these tests you then it’s time to convince your loved one that they should seek further advice from the their doctor.
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