How is anosognosia diagnosed?

How is anosognosia diagnosed?

Anosognosia is effectively invisible unless a provider already knows you have a health problem and they see the signs that you don’t recognize that problem. In many cases, that means a provider first has to diagnose a condition that's having a significant impact on your life. Then they have to see signs that you can't recognize that problem, leading them to suspect anosognosia.

It's also common for people with anosognosia to rationalize or cover up signs of health problems, which happens because their mind tries to fill in the gaps for what it can’t explain or understand. Because of that, diagnosing this condition often requires a combination of the following:

• A physical and neurological exam.
• Asking questions about a person’s health history and life circumstances.
• Diagnostic testing and imaging.