Cognitive Assessment
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Cognitive assessments cover a wide array of skills in a variety of developmental areas. Some of the most common cognitive assessments, for example, focus on intelligence testing of young children; the most easily identified of these is the IQ test. However, other cognitive assessments for individuals at this developmental level can include the following:
- Measuring language abilities
- Perception
- Attention
- Cognitive processing
- Short- and long-term memory
Cognitive assessments can be administered for a variety of reasons, not all of them bad. While it seems as though testing is only used when children are displaying delays or impairments in their cognitive processing, it can also be used when a child is performing especially well in a given area. Testing in this regard can lead to one being identified as gifted or talented in a specific area.
Cognitive assessments can also be utilized in specific medical cases. When individuals are diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, for example, it is important to assess their cognitive abilities to address any deficiencies that might arise. The same can be said for individuals who experience a stroke or other health problem that can impact brain functioning. As an individual reaches late adulthood, cognitive assessment can be used to measure the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The results of these assessments can provide support for continuing a given treatment method or therapy. The information derived from cognitive assessments should be taken in tandem with other measures of overall health, including physical assessments and performance-related measures.