The Value of the Mini-Mental State Examination in Childhood: A Preliminary Study

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), a screening test of higher mental function, has been modified slightly for use in a pediatric outpatient setting. The test, which takes 5 to 10 minutes to administer, covers a range of cognitive functions including orientation, attention-concentration, memory, language, and constructional ability. In a preliminary study, we have found that the test can be applied from the age of 4 years. Highly significant correlations were found between the MMSE score and chronologic age (r = .57; P < .001), reading age (r = .79; P < .001), and mental age (r = .83; P < .001). MMSE scores reach a plateau at a mental age of approximately 10 years. The MMSE is a suitable instrument for screening higher mental function in children at the age of 4 years and above and can be readily incorporated into the routine neurologic examination of children.