What strengthens the case for impairment beyond a single low score?

• A. A single low score is enough to claim impairment.
• B. The presence of multiple unrelated low scores indicates impairment.
• C. Multiple abnormal scores across related domains.
• D. A normal score in one domain rules out impairment.

Answer: (C)

Impairment is best supported by a pattern of weakness, not by a lone outlier. When several scores are abnormal and those deficits appear across tests that tap related cognitive functions, it signals that a real underlying impairment is present rather than a random fluctuation or test artifact. A single low score can arise from factors like fatigue, motivation, or measurement error, but multiple abnormal scores within related domains point to a consistent deficit in a specific cognitive system or network. For example, concurrent weaknesses across several memory and executive tests suggest a true impairment rather than just an isolated blip.