While taking a history on an older adult male client, his wife reports that he is having increasing periods of short-term memory loss and he occasionally gets confused. How should the nurse proceed with an assessment of the client's sensory system?

Perform the tests because the client's mental status does not affect sensory status.

Assess the client's ability to follow directions before proceeding with the exam.

Defer this part of the exam because the results are likely to be invalid.

Explain the tests to the wife so she can interpret them for her husband.