ABSTRACT
This chapter argues a tripartite approach to memory assessment that, in addition to evaluating pertinent memory functions, attempts to take into account the patient's perception of his or her memory problems and various concomitant factors that have been demonstrated to influence memory performance. It is our contention that the chief justification of a clinical memory test or battery lies in the instrument's ability to contribute to the understanding and remediation of behavioral deficits. The chapter discusses the clinical priorities, age factors related to memory testing, and the relationships between memory testing and neurodiagnoses. It argues that memory should not be regarded as a unidimensional entity, and that various tasks should not be combined in additive fashion to derive a 'memory quotient'. Memory is a multidimensional entity that we have just begun to explore and understand.
