Memory and cognitive screening at LC Psych is a brief, structured assessment of key cognitive functions including orientation to person, place, and time; attention and concentration; short-term and recent memory; language (including word-finding a…
Memory and cognitive screening at LC Psych is a brief, structured assessment of key cognitive functions including orientation to person, place, and time; attention and concentration; short-term and recent memory; language (including word-finding and verbal fluency); visuospatial function (the ability to perceive and reproduce spatial relationships); and abstract reasoning. Scores are compared to normative data adjusted for the client's age and education level, allowing accurate interpretation of whether performance falls within normal limits or suggests a pattern warranting further clinical attention.
It is important to understand that a cognitive screening is not a full neuropsychological evaluation. A screening provides a clinically meaningful first look at cognitive functioning, establishes a documented baseline for future comparison, and identifies whether findings warrant referral for more comprehensive neuropsychological testing. For many clients, a screening is exactly the level of assessment needed — providing reassurance when functioning is intact, or a clear next step when it is not.
The most common concerns that bring adults to a memory and cognitive screening include forgetting recent conversations or appointments that were clearly registered, difficulty finding words for common objects or concepts, getting confused or disoriented in familiar environments, struggling to follow multi-step instructions or manage complex tasks that were previously manageable, and noticing changes in judgment, decision-making, or personality that family members or close friends have commented upon. These experiences are genuinely frightening, and seeking a professional assessment is the right and responsible response.
However, it is equally important to recognize that memory and cognitive concerns have many causes that are entirely reversible and non-neurodegenerative. Depression is among the most common causes of subjective cognitive complaints and objective cognitive difficulties, and it is highly treatable. Sleep disruption — particularly chronic insomnia — profoundly impairs memory consolidation and cognitive efficiency. Certain medications, vitamin deficiencies (particularly B12), thyroid dysfunction, and stress all produce significant cognitive symptoms. A cognitive screening at LC Psych is accompanied by a thorough clinical interview that explores these alternative and treatable causes alongside the possibility of neurodegenerative conditions.
The primary instruments used in memory and cognitive screening at LC Psych include the MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) and the MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) — both widely validated, well-normed, and clinically established cognitive screening measures. Verbal fluency measures — which ask clients to generate as many words as possible from a given category or letter within a timed period — provide sensitive indicators of processing speed and semantic memory. Additional brief memory measures may be included based on the specific nature of the client's reported concerns.
The screening appointment also includes a comprehensive clinical interview with the client, and, when available and appropriate, collateral information from a family member or close contact who has had the opportunity to observe the client's functioning. This collateral information is often critically important because clients with genuine cognitive impairment may have limited insight into the extent of their difficulties, while clients with severe anxiety about cognitive decline may perceive difficulties that are not reflected in objective performance. Both scenarios are clinically meaningful and handled with equal care.
Results of the cognitive screening are delivered in a dedicated feedback conversation conducted with warmth and sensitivity. The clinician will clearly explain what the screening found, what the findings mean, and what the recommended next step is. When screening results are within normal limits, this finding — along with an explanation of the alternative, treatable causes that may be contributing to the client's concerns — is delivered with the reassurance it deserves. When results suggest cognitive difficulties that warrant further evaluation, a referral for comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation is provided with clear guidance on how to pursue it.
LC Psych recognizes that cognitive concerns carry significant emotional weight — for both the person experiencing them and their loved ones — and approaches screening conversations with the compassion and directness that this topic requires. You will never leave a screening appointment uncertain about what comes next, and you will always be treated with the dignity and respect that a genuinely difficult experience demands.
If you or a loved one has noticed changes in memory or cognitive functioning and you are ready to seek professional guidance, LC Psych is here to help. Memory and cognitive screenings are available by appointment in Florence, Kentucky. To schedule or ask questions, call 859-525-4911 or visit lcpsych.com. Peace of mind — or a clear next step toward answers — begins with a single appointment.
Each clinician below offers Memory and Cognitive Screening. Explore their profiles to learn more about their approach and availability.
Clinical Psychologist
Clinical Psychologist
6900 Houston Rd.
Building 500 Suite 11
Florence, KY 41042
Office hours
Mon – Thurs: 8AM – 9PM
Friday: 8AM – 5PM
Saturday: 8AM – 2PM
Our therapists are accepting new clients. Schedule your first appointment today — in-person or via telehealth, evenings and weekends available.
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