WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: What is the Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test? The Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test (GOAT) is a tool used to test a person's memory after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The GOAT tests how much the person remembers. It also tests what he knows about where he is and what day it is. The GOAT helps healthcare providers learn when the person starts to remember information more easily. If a person's memory improves after a brain injury, this may be a good sign he is getting better. What questions are asked during the GOAT? Healthcare providers will ask questions about the past and the present. A person may have trouble recalling past facts even when he knows the current day and year. The following are examples of questions that might be asked: - What is your name?
- What is the last thing you remember before the accident?
- What is the first thing you remember after the accident?
- What city are you in right now?
- Where were you born?
When is the GOAT used? Healthcare providers use the GOAT when a person arrives at the hospital. They also use it while the person is recovering in the hospital. It can be used if a person goes in and out of a coma. How is the GOAT used? If a person gets a high GOAT score, it means he may recover well from the TBI. A low number of correct answers may mean he needs a longer period of time to get well. The GOAT helps healthcare providers plan treatments and therapy. It also helps them plan how to work with the person and his family after he goes home. |