The Serial Sevens test, part of the mini-mental exam used to assess mental capacity, is being replaced by subtraction tests using smaller increments due to questions over its effectiveness. While only half of high school students passed the Serial Sevens test, at least 79% passed the three-in-a-row test. The mini-mental exam also includes memory and organization tasks, as well as reading, drawing and reciting familiar sentences.
Serial Sevens is a superficial test of brain function that forms a small part of a widely used test to measure a patient’s level of consciousness. Counting backwards from 100 in increments of seven requires concentration and short-term memory. Many clinicians switched to subtraction by smaller increments, such as three or five, after some studies questioned the effectiveness of this test for determining cognition.
The serial number test is usually a part of what’s known as a mini-mental exam, which is a tool frequently used by doctors to quickly assess a person’s mental capacity. It is also commonly used by staff in aged care settings such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities, where most people with conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease live. The seven sets make up the cognitive portion of the mini mental exam.
Those administering the mini-mental exam will often substitute serial fives or even serial threes for serial sevens. Smaller increments require the same type of reverse mechanics. According to a 1997 study published online by the National Institutes of Health, only half of all unaffected and fully aware high school students who were given the serial seven test even passed it. Conversely, at least 79% passed the three-in-a-row test and 89% passed it when asked to recite the calendar backwards.
The researchers concluded that the original test was inadequate when attempting to assess whether a young athlete had suffered a concussion. This is due to its lackluster score compared to other cognitive tests. However, for the elderly or doctors, the test is still used to challenge the level of consciousness in older minds. It’s only part of a much larger assessment.
Other parts of the mini mental exam measure different components of a patient’s brain function. An examiner may begin by asking for indicative data regarding time, such as year, month, and day, and space, such as state, city, or facility name. Then a patient is guided through a series of memory and organization tasks. A common memory test is asked for three or even five members of a certain group, such as carrots, green peppers, and celery in the vegetable family, then restating these items again. They may be given three-part instructions to follow, such as “Close your eyelids twice, open your mouth and stick your tongue out.” To test more advanced functions, a mini-mental test may also involve reading, drawing and reciting familiar sentences.
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