About the Exam (FAQ)

About the Exam (F.A.Q.)

Is there a computerized or web-based version of Cognistat?
YES.  The CAS - Cognistat Assessment System - is our web based test.

Why does one administer a cognitive screening test?
Cognitive assessment can be performed for many different reasons. The mental status examinations performed by psychiatrists and neurologists vary, but both address cognitive functioning. The nature of a patient’s cognitive functioning may be of great relevance to a broad range of other medical practitioners, nurses, rehabilitation professionals, and speech pathologists. Understanding patients’ specific cognitive strengths and weaknesses (with regard to level of consciousness, orientation, and attention as well as the five major areas of cognitive functioning: language, spatial skills, memory, arithmetic and judgment) is helpful in determining whether a patient is able to remember to take his medications, can communicate adequately in spoken or written terms, has visual spatial impairments that may contribute to problems driving or getting lost a familiar neighborhood. Arithmetical weaknesses and problems of practical judgement have obvious implications in a variety of settings, particularly the assessment of testamentary capacity.

What training do I need to administer the test?
An individual with a high school education who is fluent in the English language and who refers to the Cognistat Manual is able to administer the test, score the results, and complete the graphic profile on the front page.

What training do I need to interpret the test?
Interpretation of Cognistat results is done at different levels. At the simplest level one may describe an individual’s test performance as falling within the range of normal or in the mild, moderate or severe range of impairment on specific subtests. Scores must always be described with reference to the norms for a patient’s age range that are detailed in the Cognistat Manual. The significance of these results ultimately depends on a number of factors. Among these are a clear understanding of the patient’s mental state at the time of testing, which can be influenced by a broad range of factors. These factors are described in the Cognistat Manual section entitled, "Cautions in Interpretation." An important consideration is an individual’s baseline level of functioning overall and in each of the separate cognitive ability areas. The significance of test results with regard to specific pathologic entities or conditions (such as stroke, brain injury, dementia, ADHD, etc) will be determined best by an individual with either psychological or medical training.

Is there a computerized or web-based version of Cognistat?
YES. The CAS - Cognistat Assessment System - is our web based test. 

Is it possible to speak to a member of the Cognistat team either about Cognistat's psychometric properties and/or its use with different patient populations?
Peer-reviewed articles describing Cognistat's psychometric properties and its use with a variety of medical and psychiatric populations are found in the manual and on Cognistat's online list of references.

Are student discounts available?
No student discounts are offered.

Are there actually any change in test administration procedures or the manner in which scores are recorded with the 2009 Manual and test booklets?
No

Can I use older test booklets with the 2009 Manual and still have an valid test experience? 
Yes, but older test booklets and Manuals are no longer published and/or for sale.

Are results of the Cognistat valid if the test is repeated over time (i.e. once per week, as a drug treatment is administered)?
Yes. The test is valid when given at any time. 

What exactly is a metric test?  Does it just mean a more in-depth question/skill than the screening question?
The metric test is a rough measure of the skill involved. The screen is a quick way of looking and deciding whether or not additional assessment of that ability is needed. The metric provides this assessment.  

Are sample tests available before purchase?
At this time we are not able to provide sample tests. If you look through our web site and in particular to the articles provided in the References section you questions may be sufficiently answered. If you have further questions after that please contact us again.

Why Charged CA sales tax when they are tax exempt?
An order shipped to a facility in CA is therefore subject to sales tax.  Had it been shipped outside CA it would not be subject to sales tax, even when the billing is to an entity outside CA. Furthermore, tax-exempt generally refers to income tax, not sales tax, which comes under different rules than income tax.

Here is the code:  Cal. Code Regs tit 18 Sec 1620(a)(3)(A)
 
"Sales tax applies to all sale of property delivered to the purchaser or the purchaser's representative or agent in California, whether or not the property is intended for out-of-state use and whether or not the property is actually transported outside California."
 
Sale is defined to include transfer of title or possession.  Under the Uniform Commercial Code Sec 240, unless otherwise explicitly agreed, title passes to the buyer at the time and place at which the seller complete the performance with reference to physical delivery of goods. (pg 60 of sales tax course)