SLUMS Administration M.

Clay

The SLUMS is pretty straightforward – you’ll just read the bolded print the majority of the time.
A few additional instructions for administration are not printed on the protocol.
Question 4: “Please remember these five objects. I will ask you what they are later.”
Read the five items slowly and clearly, allowing a one second pause between each item. When
you have finished reading the five items, ask the client, “Can you repeat those for me?” Place a
small check to the right of each item they can correctly recall. If the client cannot remember all
five items, say, “I’m going to read them again,” and repeat the five items. Ask again if they can
repeat them. Do this as many times as necessary for them to correctly repeat all five items. If
they require you to repeat the items, write (R) beside the item number to indicate you had to
repeat the item.
Question 5: You may repeat the question if the client requests. They are not allowed scrap paper
and must work it out mentally. If you repeat the question for them, write (R) beside the item
number.
Question 7: “What were those five objects I asked you to remember?” Put a large check through
the items they can recall.
Question 8: When you read the numbers to the client, do so one digit at a time (i.e., 8-7 instead
of eighty-seven). If they ask you to repeat the numbers, you may do so, but their response will
not be counted as correct. If they require you to repeat, write (R) beside the item to indicate you
had to repeat it.
Question 9: Fold the paper in half and present the circle on the back of the protocol to the client.
Give them a pencil/pen and say, “For this part, you are going to fill in the numbers of a clock,
and then I’ll tell you a time to set it to.” If needed, clarify that you only need the hour markers.
When they have finished writing in the numbers, regardless of whether they did it correctly, say,
“Now set the time to ten minutes before eleven o’clock.”
Question 10: Take the paper and fold it back to present the bottom-half of the front page. Point to
the three shapes (square, triangle, rectangle) and say, “Please place an X in the triangle.” Then
say, “Now circle the one that is the largest.” Some clients will ask what you mean by “largest”
– tell them you are only allowed to say “largest.”
Question 11: Follow the instructions exactly, being sure to read the story clearly and slowly. You
are not allowed to repeat the story. For the question, “What state did she live in?” – if they
respond with “Chicago” you may ask, “Chicago is a city. Can you tell me the state?”