Final answer:
In a neurological exam, the subjective data to collect includes the patient's description of symptoms, emotional state, memory, language comprehension, and verbal fluency. This data helps guide the mental status exam and informs further in-depth evaluations if cognitive or sensory deficits are detected visibly.
Step-by-step explanation:
When performing a neurological exam, subjective data you should obtain includes the patient's personal experiences of symptoms, which can provide critical insights into their neurological function. The exam is divided into various sections to evaluate different regions of the Central Nervous System (CNS). These sections include the mental status exam, cranial nerve exam, sensory and motor exams, and the coordination exam. Subjective data mainly comes from the mental status exam, assessing higher functions such as memory, language, and emotion.
Subjective data would involve the patient's ability to understand language and follow instructions, verbal fluency, memory recall, and emotional status. This is also the time to explore any reported symptoms like headaches, dizziness, numbness, or changes in vision or hearing. Gathering a thorough patient history is essential for the mental status examination, as it provides the context for interpreting objective findings and understanding the patient's baseline neurological function.
Such subjective data can lead to a more in-depth cognitive or language evaluation if deficits are apparent. For instance, a patient's report of altered sensations, like 'pins and needles' or difficulty in feeling touch, suggests a problem within the sensory systems. These subjective reports, in conjunction with objective tests, are crucial for diagnosing conditions in a timely manner, which is especially critical in emergency scenarios where rapid assessment could have implications on treatment and recovery.