+Allen Cognitive Level Screen (ACLS)

Tweet questions/comments #rophACLS

+Allen Cognitive Level Screen (ACLS) and Large Allen Cognitive Level Screen (LACLS)

+Allen Cognitive Level Screen(ACLS)“a visuomotor task that provides an estimate of a person’s ability to learn or do other visuomotor tasks”

“provides a quick estimate of a person’s current capacity to learn”

Allen, Earhart & Blue, 1992, p. 32

+Allen Cognitive Level Screen(ACLS) Intended Population

Adults with psychiatric disorders and adults with dementia, or populations who demonstrate disruptive processing capacities.

A screen of functional cognition with persons whose cognitive abilities appear to between 3.0-5.8 on the Allen scale

+What does the ACLS observe?

Functional Cognition: Motor/verbal skills, social behaviors, self awareness, and

general awareness Focus intervention efforts on remaining capacities

Cognitive Disabilities Model: Hypothesis-disruptions in cognition produce patterns of

attention/motor/verbal behavior that are observable in functional tasks

Goal: Observe a person’s cognitive abilities during 3 leather

lacing tasks of increasing complexity

+General Information

Features Section I: History of the Cognitive Disabilities Model Section II: Introduction to ACLS-5 Section III: Set-up of Leather-Lacing tools Section IV: Preparation for Administration Section V: Administration Section VI: Assigning a Score Section VIII: Review of Published Research

+Running Stitch

+Whipstitch

+Cordovan Stitch

+Overview Preparation Administration Scoring Cost and Attainment Training Concerns/Cautions for Interpretation

+Overall Recommendation

Communication tool between therapists and caregivers (level of assistance)

Should be followed up w/ an appropriate assessment to confirm functional cognitive capacity

+Studies

Reliability Moderate-higher inter-rater reliability Significant correlations supporting test-retest reliability

Validity Significant relationship w/ FIM scores Significant relationship w/ Symbol-Digit Modalities Test

(concentration) Significant relationship w/ Wisconsin Card Sorting Test,

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Logical Memory Subtests I and II (working memory)

Significant relationship w/ Hooper Visual Organization Test and Digit Span Backward (higher-level cognitive processes)

+Case StudyPt consistently demo’s impulsive decisions during therapy activity—abruptly changing course of action. Pt is SBA with all ADLs, and his family would like him to continue to live alone. Pt also plans to live alone post d/c. Therapist suspects mild global cognitive impairment (~Level 5.0)—decreased insight into safety pc’s and poor judgment.

Therapist administers ACLS; pt receives screen score of 5.2

Follow up w/ additional assessment (ex. Allen Diagnostic Module) OR document tentative nature of screen

Be clear w/ functional and safety implications of score

+Resources

Official website for ACLS and LACLS Committee: www.allencognitivelevelscreen.org

Official website for Allen Cognitive Advisors, Ltd: www.allen -cognitive-network.org

+References

Allen, C.K., Earhart, C.A., & Blue, T. (1992). Occupational therapy treatment goals for the physically and cognitively disabled. Bethesda, MD: Occupational Therapy Association.

Burns, McCarten, Adler, Bauer & Kuskowski, (2004). Effects of repetative work on maintaining function in Alzheimer’s disease patients. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, 19(1), 39-1.

David, S.K., & Riley, W.T. (1990). The relationship of the Allen Cognitive Level Test to cognitive abilities and psychopathology. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 44(6), 493-497.

McCraith, D., & Henry, A. (2003). Usefulness of the cognitive disabilities model in predicting community functioning among person with mental disorders. Proceedings of the Symposium in Cognition, Tampa, Florida

Velligan, D.I, Bow-Thomas, C.C., Mahurin, R., Miller, A., Dassori, A., & Erdely, F. (1998). Concurrent and predictive validity of the Allen Cognitive Levels Assessment. Psychiatry Research.

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