The Menu Task

The Menu Task 

The Menu Task is a brief, transdiagnostic, performance-based screening measure of functional cognition. Functional cognition is defined as an individual’s “…ability to use and integrate thinking and performance skills to accomplish … everyday activities” (Giles et al., 2017, p.1). Performance-based measures of functional cognition typically take the form of a simulated IADL task (Giles et al., 2017; Wolf et al., 2019). The Menu Task is intended to help identify those at risk for functional cognitive impairment and who may need more comprehensive assessment (Al-Heizan, 2019; Al-Heizan et al., 2022; Edwards et al., 2019; Marks et al., 2021). Further testing with an appropriate assessment of functional cognition may identify impairment severe enough to compromise IADL essential for community independence, triggering further occupational therapy intervention or other support services. As of 2026, the Menu Task has been evaluated in community and acute care settings (Al-Heizan et al., 2022; Giles et al., 2025). Further work is required to evaluate the need for age or education scoring adjustments and Menu Task developers may institute new scoring guidelines in the future.

As of 2026, the Menu Task includes revised graphics and an updated score sheet designed to be easier to complete. In this version we have added post Menu Task questions that may provide the test administrator with further information about how the test taker went about completing the Menu Task (Giles et al., 2023). Other aspects of the Menu Task are unchanged.

The Menu Task is provided for those with appropriate training and experience in test administration to use as a screening measure of functional cognition. You may reprint the test forms and instructions. However, you may NOT alter the test questions or scoring in any way.

Thank you for your interest in the Menu Task. As researchers we are interested in knowing who is using the Menu Task and for what purpose.  To download the Menu Task, we are asking you to complete a brief form requesting information about you, your institution, and your intended use of the Menu Task:

Access The Menu Task

By completing this form, you are agreeing to be contacted in the future with updates regarding the Menu Task. We will not share your information with anyone outside of our research team.

References:

Al-Heizan, M. O. (2019). Screening for functional cognitive deficits in community dwelling older adults (Publication Number 13856906) University of Wisconsin – Madison]. DAI-B 80/08(E), Dissertation Abstracts International.

Thank you for your interest in The Menu Task. As researchers we are interested in knowing who is using the Menu Task and for what purpose.  To download The Menu Task we are asking you to complete a form containing the information we need regarding you, your institution, and your intended use for The Menu Task:

Access The Menu Task

By filling out this form, you are agreeing to potentially be contacted in the future with a survey about the use of The Menu Task. We will not be sharing your information with anyone outside of our research team. The information collected will be stored on a password protected computer inside of a locked office that can only be accessed by members of our research time.