Diagnostic Tests for Disorientation
Diagnostic Test list for Disorientation:
The list of diagnostic tests
mentioned in various sources as
used in the diagnosis of Disorientation
includes:
- Physical examination
- Temperature
- Neck stiffness may suggest meningitis, encephalitis or subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Neurological examination to look for focal neurological signs and papilledema
- Mental state examination - including appearance, behavior, rate and continuity of speech, mood, affect, thought content, evidence of any hallucinations or abnormal beliefs, attention and concentration, short-term memory, insight and judgement. This examination may assist in diagnosing anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and dementia.
- Formal testing of orientation including:
- (a) Time - ask the person to tell you today's date. Remember however, that even non-impaired people do not always know the correct date and may be out one or two days.
- (b) Place - the person should be able to identify where he or she is and should behave accordingly. If there is any doubt, ask the person to describe the route or means by which he or she would travel home.
- (c) Person - It is rare that an individual would not know his or her own identity. Ask if the person knows the names and relationships of any family or friends who are in the room. Do not confuse orientation of self with religious delusions, such as believing oneself to be God.
- Blood tests
- Full blood count and ESR
- Electrolytes, calcium, renal function tests
- Blood sugar level
- Liver function tests
- Thyroid function tests
- Blood cultures - if fever.
- Syphilis and HIV testing - if appropriate.
- B12 assay for deficiency which may suggest Subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord which in the late stages can cause cognitive impairment, confusion and disorientation
- ANA antibody to detect lupus erythematosus
- Urine tests
- Urine microscopy and culture to detect urinary tract infection
- Urine drug screen
- Radiological investigations
- CT scan or MRI brain - can detect many different causes of disorientation.
- Spinal tap - may be required to diagnose multiple sclerosis, neurosyphilis, meningitis.
- EEG - may be helpful in demonstrating drug intoxication.
Home Diagnostic Testing
These home medical tests may be relevant to Disorientation causes:
- Child Behavior: Home Testing
- Mental Health (Adults): Home Testing
- Home Drug Tests
- Smoking-Related Disorders: Home Testing:
- Mental Health: Home Testing:
- Brain & Neurological Disorders: Related Home Testing:
Conditions listing medical symptoms: Disorientation:
The following list of conditions
have 'Disorientation' or similar
listed as a symptom in our database.
This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete.
Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause
of any symptom.
Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which
include a symptom of Disorientation or choose View All.
Conditions listing medical complications: Disorientation:
The following list of medical conditions have 'Disorientation'
or similar listed as a medical complication in our database.
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