Cognitive Linguistic Quick Test

By | May 5, 2014

The Cognitive Linguistic Quick Test (CLQT) has been proven to be a faster, inexpensive and correct screening test of cognitive function in patients, according to research presented here at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting. The outputs of the CLQT in 25 patients (mean age 65.3 years; 63.5% male) were compared to multiple standard neuropsychometric components, explained lead investigator. Overall, the CLQT domain scores correlated well with neuropsychometric measures of corresponding cognitive functions.

The CLQT provides a time-efficient measure of strengths and weaknesses across 5 cognitive domains – attention, memory, arranging functions, language and visuospatial skills – in adults with neurological impairment due to stroke, head trauma or dementia. It provides a standardized approach for determining the most appropriate living setting for adults who are experiencing a decline in cognitive functioning. CLQT can be administered in 20–30 minutes and scored in a further 15–20 minutes. The full test can be conducted at a table, as long as the client will be able to sit up and use a pen.

Why we need Cognitive Linguistic Quick Test?

The Cognitive Linguistic Quick Test can be used for assessing a full range of cognitive processes with clients who may have decreased language skills. The reference tests are controlled Oral Word Association, Boston Naming Test, Trail Making, Rey Auditory Verbal Test, and the Memory Scale. The psychological patients must have received the extensive cognition testing in the context of an evaluation for deep brain stimulation.

Correlations of the Cognitive Linguistic Quick Test with standard neuropsychological testing were not always perfect. For example, the composite CLQT score correlated best with performance and full-scale intelligence. The CLQT memory score correlated well with verbal but not visual memory and CLQT scores determines better with neuropsychometric measures than with CLQT scores.

Cognitive dysfunction is an important component of psychology treatment and while common neuropsychological testing can be very useful to assess cognitive deficits, it is also time consuming and expensive, Dr. Boyer explained. The CLQT is a short test battery that can be performed in only 20 to 25 minutes. It includes mainly 8 tasks: personal facts, symbol cancellation, clock drawing, storytelling, symbol testing, generative naming, and design memory and generation. The results of these tasks are reported as a composite score of cognitive test.

In addition, cognitive test results are stratified as normal, moderate, or severe in each of 5 domains: attention, understanding function, language, and visual function. This stratification may provide a benefit over other brief tests, such as the Mini-Mental Test which only provides a single, total score. Dr. Boyer concluded that the CLQT is an effective screening test of cognitive function of patients with Parkinson’s disease. It takes only 20 to 25 minutes, provides more information than other test batteries types, and is less expensive than general neuropsychological function testing. In order to have a normal mental state, we should have a quick cognition test. This Quick test helps us to know our mental capabilities to think and decide.