SLU Mental Status Exam

These questions measure attention, immediate recall and orientation. A patient must provide the exact answer to receive a point. 

These questions measure a patient's ability to remember information after a time delay and whether new information disrupts that recall. 

Read the list of objects and confirm the patient heard/understood by asking them to repeat the list. Do this up to three times. If a patient is unable to correctly repeat the five objects after three attempts, move on to the next question. 

This question measures number calculation and registration. 

Obtain the answer to the first part of the question before asking the second part. Both parts — money spent and money left — are worth a different amount of points and should be scored separately. 

This question measures time-limited recall. 

Write down the animals and count each name only once, regardless of repetition. Redirect the patient's attention, if necessary. Please note: Insects are counted as animals. 

This question measures immediate recall and remembering numbers both backward and forward. 

Say the individual numbers — for example, pronounce 426 as four, two, six — at a constant rate with a short pause in between each. A patient must repeat the sequence in reverse order — six, two, four — to receive a point. 

This question measures visual-spatial ability and executive function. 

Draw a large circle on the back of the exam form or give the patient a separate sheet of paper with a large circle on it. 

When scoring the hour markers, give credit for either all 12 numbers or all 12 ticks that are appropriately spaced and in or close to the correct position. If a patient does not provide all the numbers/ticks, prompt them once more to do so. 

When scoring the time, make sure the hour hand is shorter than the minute hand. 

Both parts of the question should be scored separately as correct or incorrect. 

This question measures visual-spatial ability and executive function. 

If a patient has a visual impairment, provide a separate sheet of paper with larger figures. 

This question measures executive function and immediate recall. 

Make sure the patient is paying attention before reading the story. Do not repeat it. 

Answers should be specific. For example, the woman did not go back to work until her children were teenagers; "after she had children" is not a correct answer. However, an administrator can request that a patient provide more details and then score the answer accordingly. 

1. Prepare to conduct the exam privately in the patient's primarly language.
2. Gather the items needed to administer the test, including a watch or timer. 
3. Record the number of years the patient attended school or the highest degree they obtained. 
4. Determine the patient's level of alertness. "Alert" means they are fully awake and able to focus. Other descriptors include drowsy, confused or inattentive. 
5. Tell the patient you'd like to ask them some questions about their memory to see how they are doing. 
6. Reassure the patient that the test is not one they can fail, but a tool that checks the amount of memory they have. 
7. Speak slowly and clearly, and make sure the patient understands what is said. 

The SLU Mental Status exam is not designed to be administered by phone or virtually, as some questions require patients to draw on paper. While it may be possible to make special accommodations for a fully virtual assessment, the changes would require testing for validity — a study that has yet to be done. 

The original SLU Mental Status exam is not designed for patients who do not speak English or have limited English proficiency. 

The GEC has 23 professional language and regional translations of the SLU Mental Status exam. If the appropriate translation is available, it should be administered by a trained professional who is also proficient in the respective language. 

Confirm that the patient uses corrective eyewear or hearing aids that allow them to complete the exam. Do not administer the exam if the patient is unable to see or hear appropriately, with or without corrective eyewear or hearing aids. 

No. The SLU Mental Status exam is a standardized screening measure. Changes may impact performance, which could impact the validity of scores and results. 

Professional regional and language exam translations are available. 

You can accept a patient's self-corrected answer as correct. If their answer is incorrect, do not prompt them to provide a different answer

No. Patients should be assessed on their ability to answer questions without assistance. Examples of what a patient cannot do include:

• Look at a calendar, phone, watch or other resource to answe questions one through three
• Use a calculator or pen/pencil and paper to answer question five
• Look at a clock or watch to answer question 10
• Take notes during the test

No. The SLU Mental Status exam is a screening tool. A clinical diagnosis requires a full assessment and evaluation by a qualified health care professional. 

In most cases, a patient should be tested no more than once a year. Administering the SLU Mental Status exam more frequently may artificially inflate a patient's score.