MMSE - Mini-Mental State Examination Language: Naming and Repetition Questions and Answers

Question 1

During the MMSE naming task, an examiner shows the patient a standard wristwatch. The patient responds, "It's a timepiece." How should this response be scored?

Accepted Answer

Score 0, as the response is not 'watch' or 'wristwatch'.

Answer

According to standardized MMSE scoring guidelines, only 'watch' or 'wristwatch' are accepted as correct answers for this item. While 'timepiece' is technically correct, scoring must be strict to maintain standardization. Therefore, the response should be scored as 0.

Question 2

When administering the repetition task, the examiner asks the patient to repeat the phrase "No ifs, ands, or buts." The patient says, "No ifs, ands, or but." What is the correct score for this response?

Accepted Answer

0 points, because the phrase was not repeated exactly.

Answer

The repetition task requires the patient to repeat the phrase exactly as stated by the examiner. Any deviation, including omitting the 's' on 'buts', results in a score of 0. Only one trial is permitted.

Question 3

Which of the following is a critical procedural step for the examiner when administering the repetition task ("No ifs, ands, or buts")?

Accepted Answer

Allow only one trial for the patient to repeat the phrase.

Answer

The standardized administration of the MMSE repetition task explicitly states that the examiner should allow only one trial for the patient to repeat the phrase. This ensures the task accurately assesses the patient's immediate auditory attention and processing.

Question 4

A patient with expressive aphasia is shown a pencil during the naming task. They are unable to say the word "pencil" but correctly demonstrate its use by pretending to write. How should the examiner score this action?

Accepted Answer

Score 0 points because the task specifically requires verbal naming.

Answer

The naming task of the MMSE is a test of verbal language function. The patient must verbally name the object. While demonstrating its use shows recognition, it does not fulfill the requirements of the task, so it must be scored as 0.

Question 5

The language tasks of naming two objects and repeating a phrase primarily assess which cognitive domain?

Accepted Answer

Attention, comprehension, and expression.

Answer

Naming objects requires language expression (specifically, word-finding). Repeating a complex phrase tests attention and the ability to accurately reproduce spoken language. Together, these tasks fall under the broad cognitive domain of language, which includes attention, comprehension, and expression.

MMSE - Mini-Mental State Examination Practice Test

MMSE - Mini-Mental State Examination Practice Test

MMSE - Mini-Mental State Examination Language: Naming and Repetition Questions and Answers