Cognitive Capacity Assessment: The Fundamental Element of Neurological Disability Guidelines in India.

BACKGROUND

Disability evaluation as per World Health Organization includes assessment of impairments, activity limitations, and participation restriction, which unfortunately is not assessed by the existing guidelines of disability in India.

AIM: The aim of this study wasto comparea new study criterion with the existing guidelines for assessing cognitive disability for chronic neurological conditions.

METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted on 41 participants. They were assessed on an existing guideline (Gazette India 200,1 assessing physical domain and Intelligence Quotient[IQ]) and study criterion assessing three aspects of cognitive capacity: IQ, neurocognitive functioning, and QOL.

RESULTS

The existing guideline underestimated 84% of cases for disability. The average percentage of disability measured by the study criterion was 33.2% more as compared to existing guidelines with S.D of 26.6.

CONCLUSION

Cognitive capacity assessment is an important element to be measured in chronic neurological disability certification. However, a large sample is required to make an affirmative claim for the same.