Dementia Testing
dementia testing
Dr. Lovette's dementia evaluations not only provide a definitive diagnosis, but also show the person's specific deficits and strengths. This information can be used by family and professionals to guide treatment, reduce the patient's frustration, and assist in placement decisions.
Early diagnosis of dementia is also very effective in breaking through the denial that often accompanies the early stages of dementia, and allows for early intervention that can potentially slow the progression. Dr. Lovette's Dementia Evaluations take less than 1-hour, on average, of the patient's time.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA
Dementia involves signs and symptoms that cause impairment in thought, communication, and memory.
- Impairment in memory
- Difficulties in communication and language (e.g., finding words)
- Difficulty planning and organizing
- Decreased focus and attention
- Decline in reasoning
- Declining in judgement
- Impaired visual perception
- Confusion and disorientation
- Problems with coordination and motor functions
- Difficulty completing day-to-day tasks
- Mood changes
- Apathy / Disinterest
- Inappropraite behavior
- Paranoia
- Anxiety/depression
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
- Personality changes
- Difficulty following directions
- Repetitive
Types of dementia
- Alzheimer's disease
- Vascular dementia (i.e., stroke)
- Lewy body dementia
- Frontotemporal dementia
There are also disorders that often are associated with dementia:
- Traumatic Brain injury
- Huntinton's disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease