Cognitive disorders are diagnosed by looking at which two areas?

• A. Physical health and nutrition
• B. Intellectual functioning and adaptive functioning
• C. Social skills and communication
• D. Personality traits

Answer: (B)

Diagnosing cognitive disorders is based on two key areas: intellectual functioning and adaptive functioning. Intellectual functioning covers reasoning, problem solving, learning, and memory—how efficiently a person thinks and processes information. Adaptive functioning looks at everyday skills needed to live independently and participate in social and practical tasks, such as communicating, managing daily activities, and handling personal and financial responsibilities. A diagnosis typically requires deficits in both areas, indicating that thinking abilities are below age expectations and that daily living is significantly impaired for the person’s age and cultural context.

Physical health and nutrition can influence cognition but aren’t the criteria used to diagnose cognitive disorders. Social skills and communication are part of adaptive functioning, but the diagnosis depends on the broader combination of intellectual and adaptive deficits, not those areas alone. Personality traits are unrelated to the criteria for cognitive disorders.