Memory problems may be associated with drug and alcohol abuse, medications (tranquillizers, blood pressure medications, sedatives, psychiatric, and allergy medications) and medical conditions (stroke, heart disease). Some short-term memory loss is normal with aging, but more pronounced loss of memory may be related to the onset of dementia, especially Alzheimer's disease. There are a number of specific tests that your doctor can do help to diagnose the cause of memory problems, but there are some quick tests you can do if you're concerned about short-term memory loss.
Instructions
Memory tests
1. Write the letters of the alphabet on cards (repeating the alphabet twice), shuffle them, and turn them over. Pick up four cards, look at them for three seconds, turn them back over, set them aside and write down the letters you recall. Repeat this, adding two additional cards each time until you get to 12 cards, and then check results. You should be able to recall at least 5 letters at a time.
2. Ask your assistant to specify a time (such as 7:20) and then draw the face of a clock with all 12 hours included and the hands indicating the specified time. You should be able to complete this task correctly.
3. Count backwards from 100 by 7's (100, 93, 86). Ask your assistant to write down the numbers so you can check them when you finish. You should be able to do this task with few errors.
4. Ask your assistant to state a common phrases ("waste not, want not") and then repeat it back. Do this with about 10 phrases. You can find lists of common phrases on the Internet or in phrase books. You should be able to repeat back common phrases with few errors.
5. Ask you assistant to give you a task involving three steps (pick up a magazine, open it to page 10 and place it on the table), and then carry out the task. You should be able to do simple three-step tasks without errors.
Tags: should able, common phrases, your assistant, memory loss, repeat back, short-term memory