Assessing everyday memory in patients with perceptual deficits

Abstract

The multidimensional nature of the deficits presented by patients referred for neurological rehabilitation poses problems for therapists in selecting appropriate assessments. Although many patients will exhibit memory problems on admission, most will also show signs of other impairment, such as visuoperceptual deficit; but few tests exist that take into account the effect of such influences. The Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test, which was developed to measure and monitor everyday memory problems in patients with acquired brain damage, has been modified to provide a subscale of items that are sensitive to memory impairment but insensitive to perceptual deficit. Revised norms are presented, based on a sample of 100 brain-injured subjects. Results indicate that use of the subscale reduces the likelihood of overestimating the severity of memory deficit in perceptually impaired patients.