A 36-year old female is admitted to the emergency department at 2:20 a.m.with a severe laceration to her forehead,with incoherent speech.Paramedics report that they picked up the patient at a local bar,and the bartender on site said,"She seemed just fine when she came in.She must have had a lot to drink before she came here." Witness reports onsite confirmed that the woman fell off a bar stool and hit her head on the bar rail.Based on the information provided,a blood alcohol test was administered with a result of a 0.01 blood alcohol level.The woman's weight was recorded at 145 pounds.Incoherent speech is most likely attributed to which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Given the low blood alcohol level (0.01) and the severe laceration to the forehead accompanied by incoherent speech, it is more likely that the symptoms are due to a secondary neurocognitive disorder (NCD) caused by the head injury rather than alcohol intoxication or fatigue. Primary NCDs are typically chronic and progressive, not acute and caused by an injury.

A 36-Year Old Female Is Admitted to the Emergency Department