Standardized medical cognitive assessment tool
A testing system and method for evaluation of neurological function are provided. Specifically, the system and method can be used to differentiate between normal and pathological function for motor skills, logic, reasoning, coordination, verbal function, memory, and various other skills. In addition, it is designed to provide a package to a clinician, including a recommended battery of tests and a results report. The system and method described herein is designed to reduce bias due to the human nature of the tester, while still maintaining versatility, individualized attention and depth of analysis in testing.
1. A method for processing data for a neurological parameter, the method comprising:
defining multiple performance zones, said defining multiple cutoff values calculated by comparing classifications of data from computerized cognitive tests with an independent classification; calculating a number of false positives and false negatives from said comparison; and choosing a first cutoff value based on a first cutoff criterion for numbers of false positives or false negatives and a second cutoff value based on a second cutoff criterion for numbers of false positives or false negatives;
providing a computerized cognitive test to a user;
collecting data from said computerized cognitive test;
calculating a score for said neurological parameter based on said collected data; and
placing said calculated score in one of said defined multiple performance zones.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a report showing said defined multiple performance zones and said placed calculated score.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said multiple performance zones include a normal zone, an abnormal zone, and at least one additional zone in between said normal zone and said abnormal zone.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said multiple performance zones are based on at least one of: a 10 point scale, a z-scale, an IQ scale or a linear transformaton thereof.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said multiple performance zones are based on a 10 point scale and wherein a first cutoff value is between 6 and 9 and a second cutoff value is between 1 and 4.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein said multiple performance zones are based on a z-scale and wherein said multiple cutoff values are numbers between −1 and 1.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said defining multiple performance zones further comprises choosing a third cutoff value based on a third cutoff criterion for numbers of false positives or false negatives.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising normalizing said collected data to a reference population and standardizing said collected data to a standard scale, and wherein said calculating a score comprises calculating a score based on said normalized and standardized collected data.