Naming Flashcards

What is the term for an acquired inability to name objects that the MoCA naming section can detect?

Answer: Anomia

Anomia refers specifically to difficulty naming objects or people and is a common symptom in dementia and aphasia.

If a patient says 'rhino' instead of 'rhinoceros' on the MoCA naming task, how is this typically scored?

Answer: 1 point — it is an acceptable shortened form

'Rhino' is generally accepted as a correct response since it is a commonly recognized, standard nickname for the animal.

Which neurological condition is most strongly associated with progressive confrontation naming difficulties?

Answer: Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease commonly causes progressive anomia due to degeneration of temporal lobe structures involved in semantic memory.

How does the MoCA naming task differ from a verbal fluency task?

Answer: Naming requires identifying a picture; fluency requires generating words independently

In confrontation naming, the patient identifies a pictured object; in verbal fluency, the patient independently generates words from a category without visual cues.

Which of the following is NOT one of the animals used in the standard MoCA naming section?

Answer: Elephant

The MoCA uses a lion, rhinoceros, and camel — not an elephant — in its naming task.

What does a score of 0 out of 3 on the MoCA naming section most likely suggest?

Answer: Severe naming impairment requiring further evaluation

A score of 0/3 indicates severe difficulty with confrontation naming and warrants further neurological or neuropsychological evaluation.

Which dementia subtype, besides Alzheimer's disease, is particularly known for early and severe naming deficits?

Answer: Semantic variant primary progressive aphasia

Semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA) causes early, profound naming deficits due to selective degeneration of the anterior temporal lobes.