DUAL TASK MENTAL DEFICIENCY ASSESSMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20140255900A1
• Filed: 03/09/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
• Inventors: Ferrara, Michael S., Tomporowski, Phillip D.
• Application Number:
  US13/791,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20140255900A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/362
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/08 providing for individual presentation of information to a plurality of student stations

Abstract

Systems and methods for simultaneously conducting a non-reflex motor test and a cognitive test are described herein. This dual-test methodology compares a baseline performance for an individual to a diagnostic performance for the individual to determine whether an individual has suffered a concussion or other mental deficiency. The baseline performance data is collected before a suspected injury, and the diagnostic performance data is collected after the suspected injury. The methodology may also be used to determine how an individual is recovering from a concussion or mental deficiency by comparing later performances to earlier performances.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating determination of a mental deficiency in a patient by a health service provider, the method comprising:

instructing the patient to perform a cognitive task;

instructing the patient to perform a motor task while performing the cognitive task, said motor task being a non-reflex task;

determining a baseline performance on the cognitive and motor tasks;

at a later time, again instructing the patient to perform the cognitive task;

at the later time, again instructing the patient to perform the motor task while performing the second cognitive task;

determining a diagnostic performance on the cognitive and motor tasks;

comparing the diagnostic performance with the baseline performance to generate a comparison profile; and

communicating the comparison profile to the health service provider for use in determining the mental deficiency.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the non-reflex task simulates a sport activity.

3. A method of claim 2, wherein the sport activity includes a series of foot placements.

4. A method of claim 3, wherein the foot placements are steps.

5. A method of claim 4, wherein the steps are steps up and down.

6. A method of claim 5, wherein the steps up and down are onto and off of an object.

7. A method of claim 6, further comprising providing the object.

8. A method of claim 7, wherein the sport activity includes a modified Harvard step test.

9. A method of claim 8, wherein the object is at least 8 inches high.

10. A method of claim 1, wherein the non-reflex task includes repeated intervals initiated by the patient.

11. A method of claim 10, wherein the intervals initiated by the patient are steps.

12. A method of claim 11, wherein instructing the patient includes instructing the patient to perform a series of steps.

13. A method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a series of symbols.

14. A method of claim 13, wherein presenting the series of symbols includes audibly presenting a series of numbers.

15. A method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a response from the patient characterizing each of the series of numbers.

16. A method of claim 15, wherein the response characterizes each of the numbers as odd or even.

17. A method of claim 13, wherein presenting the series of symbols includes audibly presenting a series of letters.

18. A method of claim 17, further comprising receiving a response from the patient characterizing each of the series of letters.

19. A method of claim 18, wherein the response characterizes each of the letters as a vowel or a consonant.

20. A method of claim 13, wherein presenting the series of symbols includes audibly presenting a series of letters and numbers to the patient.

21. A method of claim 20, wherein presenting the series of letters and numbers includes switching between vowels and consonants and between odd and even numbers.

22. A method of claim 20, wherein the vowels, consonants, odd numbers, and even numbers are presented in series of more than one before switching.

23. A method of claim 22, wherein presenting includes switching at least 20 times.

24. A method of claim 22, wherein the series is a series of at least four vowels, consonants, odd numbers, and even numbers.

25. A method of claim 22, wherein switching results in a cost interference of greater than 200 ms.

26. A method of claim 1, wherein at the later time is after a concussion.