Primary Clinical Skills- Intro To Mental Status Practice Exam

The test of attention using number repetition corresponds to which measure?

Digit span Orientation to time Remote memory Spelling backwards

Correct Answer:

Digit span

Explanation:

Repeating a sequence of numbers tests attention and working memory. The measure that captures this is digit span. In digit span, you listen to a string of digits and repeat it back, with the length increasing until you can’t recall the sequence. This directly gauges how well you can attend to and hold information in short-term memory. Forward digit span mainly reflects attention and immediate memory, while backward digit span adds mental manipulation, tapping working memory more deeply. The other options don’t target this specific ability: orientation to time checks awareness of current time and date, remote memory assesses recall of past events, and spelling backwards is a language/executive task rather than a pure attention measure.

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