I took the test recently (not a joke)

[PCIntern]

As part of a larger physical examination performed for various reasons, none of which were life-threatening, I took the test administered by a neurologist.

My performance on the test was very good, but not excellent. All my life I have had a problem remembering things presented to me orally. My aural memory is at best mediocre when only presented one time. In college and professional school I relied upon written notes which I and others took to learn. No matter how many times I sat in lecture and functioned and paid attention to the best of my ability, I did not take away from the lecture what other students had. I recognized this very early in my academic career and performed compensatory behaviors to avoid, quite frankly, failure.

Now I have known about my limitation almost all my life, so when it was manifest on the exam, the repetition of the words uttered to me 10 minutes before, I knew that the problem I was having was consistent with my brain power, or lack of, my entire life. Interestingly, and anecdotally, this problem arose for me when I struck my head on the floor having fallen off a chair in junior high school. In those days you just made the best of a difficult situation, and moved on. Now of course, there would be MRIs and brain scans and significant testing in follow up, and possibly rehabilitation.

I graduated from a very fine university in the top quintile and from professional school among extremely capable students also in the top quintile and although not anywhere near the top of the class, that ethereal group of hyperachievers, I had a distinguished academic career during and following school. AsClint Eastwood said in the film Sudden Impact, a man has got to know his limitations.

There is no question that this guy in the White House is cognitively impaired in many regards. I guarantee you that he has never attempted any compensatory behavior or rehabilitation because his ego would not permit him to accept his limitations. The fact that He keeps reiterating that he did so fantastically well on this test means that he did abysmally poorly. This coming from the same individual who said that he might live to 200, you know exactly what’s going on here.

[chia]

1. Thank you for sharing that

[blueinredohio]

2. Everyone I know has said when they turned 65 they had this test.

[tblue37]

20. I didnt have it, and I will be 70 next month. nt

[blueinredohio]

21. Maybe depends on the medical group.

My older brother said when they told him to draw the clock with the numbers he asked do you want numbers or Roman numerals.

[Snackshack]

3. I hold the GOP

100% responsible for DT. They know far more then we do about what DT is and has done. If what Noel Casler has said about DT is even just partly true then the man is an even bigger disgusting POS then we already know. I am guessing it is all true of DT would have sued him by now but discovery would be a killer for him. The GOP has let this man completely subvert the Constitution/Laws and kill over 140k Americans and not said even a cross word about anything. President Obama wore a Tan Suit and the entire GOP came unglued. The hypocrisy is beyond description but they are 100% responsible for all this, DT could not do this alone.

[hlthe2b]

4. I made it through two doctoral degrees with visual (photographic memory), so I'm with you on aural

limitations. It is well known in cognitive science and especially in education fields that we have "visual" learners and "auditory" learners (among other subgroups) and that methods need to be adapted accordingly. Still, if I know an auditory memory challenge is coming, I (and many others) can concentrate on forming a visual image of the items or written form of the words-- much as those in medical, veterinary, dental school tend to form mnemonics to remember things like facial nerves or other lists.

Still, this underscores that the test is merely a screening test--something the media really ought to be emphasizing. Many more in-depth tests are administered to validate any perceived deficiencies or abnormalities. Nor is the Montreal test always useful for actual dementia patients or those with severe mental illness that can compromise cognition.

[Tracer]

5. I have a tendency to drift off when

people are nattering along about uninteresting, useless topics. Or even when I'm just thinking about something other than what the person is talking about. My daughter has called me out on this many a time. (I love her, but she is a very big natterer )

So when my doctor gave me the 5 word memory test, I blew it! Wasn't paying the least bit of attention to what she was saying. She laughed and gave me 5 more words, which a few minutes later I easily remembered.

[in2herbs]

7. I'm with you. I am now retired. I don't need to know the day, date, or time. There's

chores that have to be done everyday and I never forget to do them. I know where to go to look up the day, date and time. I remember what I want to remember and put no pressure on me to remember "other people's stuff." I read a lot and remember where to go to look up facts and history so I don't need to clutter my brain with remembering that stuff other people think is important.

In fact, there's a lot of stuff I never forget, just ask my H! lol

[greymattermom]

6. I had the same problem.

I always write things down, and I have a bad white coat stress response.

[PCIntern]

8. Yes exactly and at my age

you’re waiting for the bad news

[Hortensis]

9. He doesn't realize any normal two-year-old can identify

pictures of animals, or is apparently incapable of realizing that the same thing isn't somehow incredibly higher functioning in him than anyone else. He's completely unable to evaluate himself and others as they are.

With most of the normal complexities of the real world missing from his comprehension, I wonder what on earth he "sees"?

I've read that many narcissists fantasize by admiring a static imagining of their own physical appearance, a mental selfie. The image doesn't perform any of the heroic or otherwise pleasurable actions of normal fantasies, just looks goood.

If we could spend a few moments in his mind, I think it would have to be an appalling experience.

[Ms. Toad]

15. See my note here.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=13796182

[Hortensis]

19. Yes. "because his executive function is so impaired,

he is literally incapable of recognizing how flawed he is."

I hope understanding makes it all much easier at home.

[Ms. Toad]

22. Easier than prior to diagnosis -

But nowhere near what it was before the impairment started.

It is challenging

[malthaussen]

10. My short-term memory has always been awful.

My long-term memory is provokingly acute. Do I really need to remember a joke I heard 55 years ago?

-- Mal

[OneGrassRoot]

11. Thank you for sharing this!

I’ve had anxiety all week around these discussions because I have always been a visual learner and must write down anything said verbally. I much prefer written interactions for this reason as well.

My recall visually is far above average, almost photographic.

I haven’t yet taken such tests but have been nervous all week hearing about it, fearing something is wrong with me.

I have no injury to trace it to; I’ve always been this way.

Hmmmm...I’ve also struggled with stuttering my whole life. Wonder if that’s connected?

[OneGrassRoot]

13. Ha!

There is a connection.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5581739/#S10title

[GusBob]

12. I'm gonna guess that this situation does not affect your professional career

I would guess that a patient only has to tell you something once for you to get it

I would further guess that after years of experience, you can tell what a patients problem is from the first few words out of their mouth

I got that too, but someone tells me a phone number or password or some detailed thing I'm like: slow down there partner

My father was an MD with advanced dementia. He always passed that part of the test, he knew it was coming. I watched once tho the DR pointed to his watch: do you know what this is? " Its a wrist watch". The Dr then pointed to his other wrist: what part of the body is this called? *Blank stare* "I forget"

[PCIntern]

17. Exactly correct in all regards.

It is fascinating but I ascribed my success to there being a great visual component to my work.

[Ms. Toad]

14. I'll go a step farther - he has extremely limited executive reasoning abilities

And, beyond what his ego would or would not allow him to admit - impaired executive function makes it impossible for him to even recognize his deficit.

My spouse has impaired executive function (diagnosed). I struggled, for years, to make her understand she was impaired and to get tested in case it was something that could be easily remedied. All that happened was that she got angry, insisted I was wrong, etc. There are times she has told stories about things that happened to me in the first person. When I correct her, she is sure they happened to her. But as to anything that requires complex thought - she believes her reasoning to be perfect and mine flawed. When the flawed reasoning shows up, and it is something that matters (it will cost a significant amount of money, or impair legal rights, for example), when she can't follow the logic she just gets mad and tell me to do it. It was not until after her diagnosis that I was able to understand that she wasn't in denial, in the classic sense - she was merely incapable of recognizing reality. So - unless there is an important reason to impose reality on her, I just try to live in her world.

But - this is the same behavior described by Trump's inner circle when they have to reason with him. When something takes any level of complex thought, or tries to make him recognize the reality of the consequences of what he is doing, he just gets angry, yells, stomps off, etc.

Your issue was aural memory - which you have the executive reasoning skills to recognize and compensate for.

While I don't disagree with Trump having a massive ego, because his executive function is so impaired, he is literally incapable of recognizing how flawed he is.

[Doreen]

16. Now that I think about it, I have taken this test several times.

Every so often DSHS and Soc-Sec have these tests done for people who are on disability to see if they still have the same issues. I suck at the memory part that gives a story then you have to repeat it 5 minutes later. However I did OK at remembering the few words given to me to repeat back. My tester ended my testing by telling me that I am definently still disabled but NOT stupid.

I think trump is definitely disabled AND stupid.

[bucolic_frolic]

18. It's not the performance that worries me, it's that he said it was hard. It's not hard.

Anyone who could describe that test as hard is 7/8 of the way there and it could happen any day. Get a move on, will ya?