Special Issues on Using the <scp>Montreal Cognitive Assessment</scp> for telemedicine Assessment During <scp>COVID</scp> ‐19
Natalie A. Phillips, Howard Chertkow, M. Kathleen Pichora‐Fuller, Walter Wittich
Abstract
To the Editor The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis has accelerated the need for cognitive screening adapted to telemedicine. Understandably, clinicians are trying to use tools in hand. As codevelopers of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA1), we have received inquiries on whether and how to adapt the test, what norms are available, and how to validly assess older adults with hearing and/or vision loss. There are modified MoCA versions, including one for telephone administration2 and some that omit visual or auditory items with validated cutoff scores.3, 4 The MoCA website issued an e-mail (March 20, 2020) stating that it has been validated for remote testing. To our knowledge, there are no published validated remote testing adaptations with norms for key groups of interest, including those with assessed sensory abilities. Interpreting test results from remote administrations requires full understanding of the examineeʼs vision and hearing abilities. Age-related hearing, vision, or dual-sensory loss is highly prevalent (80%5). One cannot assume intact sensory abilities, and the sensory modality influences test performance.3, 6 As a minimum, the examiner should ask: The authors report no conflicts of interest. All authors contributed to the concept and preparation of the letter. None.