What finding indicates short-term memory impairment after a head injury?

The correct answer is indicative of someone struggling with the retention of information that was just learned or experienced. In the context of short-term memory impairment following a head injury, the inability to locate eyeglasses represents a failure to remember where the eyeglasses were placed shortly after they were set down. This type of memory issue is directly related to short-term memory functioning; the individual may not recall recently encoded information about the location of the glasses.

Short-term memory is responsible for holding and processing small amounts of information for brief periods. This impairment can significantly impact daily functioning and the ability to perform routine tasks.

In contrast, the other options speak to different cognitive and recognition processes rather than immediate recall of recently acquired information. Difficulty recognizing familiar faces suggests more profound memory issues related to long-term memory or recognition memory rather than the functions of short-term memory directly. Confusion about time is typically associated with disorientation or more complex cognitive dysfunctions, while forgetting names of common objects can indicate broader memory issues or possibly language processing problems.