ATTENTION

What does CPT stand for?

Continuous Performance Test.

What is the CPT?

A continuous task where the child sees/hears a stream of stimuli and must respond to targets and ignore distractors.

What are the four main types of measures produced by the Conners CPT-3?

• Accuracy → Detectability (d′) - can they distinguish targets from non-targets?

• Errors → Omissions, Commissions, Perseverations - what mistakes do they make?

• Speed/consistency → HRT, HRT SD, Variability - how fast and consistently do they respond?

• Sustained attention → HRT Block Change, HRT ISI Change - does responding change over time or with different stimulus speeds?

Hit reaction time = Average speed of correct responses

What does the CPT measure?

Mainly sustained attention/vigilance, but also response inhibition.

What age is the Conners CPT-3 suitable for?

8+ years.

Does the CPT have subtests?

No separate subtests are described. Important outcomes include overall errors, performance over time and sensitivity (d′).

What is a strength of the CPT?

Provides objective data about sustained attention and can identify difficulties that may be missed by parent report or interview.

What are weaknesses of the CPT?

It is long and monotonous, can be difficult for children to tolerate, and may be less useful in higher-functioning children who can maintain attention for 14 minutes despite everyday difficulties.

What is the CPT 'subtraction problem'?

Measuring decline over time can be misleading because a child performing poorly from the start has little room to deteriorate. Overall errors or sensitivity (d′) may therefore be more useful.

When would you choose a CPT?

When you want an objective measure of sustained attention, especially where attentional problems are subtle or not obvious from parent/teacher reports.

How does the CPT relate to attention theory?

Attention involves selecting goal-relevant information. The CPT tests whether the child can maintain this selection over time while ignoring irrelevant stimuli.

What does TEA-Ch2 stand for?

Test of Everyday Attention for Children, Second Edition.

What is the TEA-Ch2?

A standardised battery designed to measure separable aspects of attention in children using a mixture of paper-based and computerised tasks.

What does the TEA-Ch2 measure?

It provides an Everyday Attention Index, with measures of Selective Attention and Sustained Attention. For ages 8-15, it also includes Attentional Switching.

What age range is the TEA-Ch2 for?

5-15 years. There is a shorter, simpler TEA-Ch2J for ages 5-7 and a longer TEA-Ch2A for ages 8-15.

What is the basic TEA-Ch2 protocol?

The child completes several paper-based and computerised attention tasks appropriate to their age. The test uses a child-friendly comic format, and computerised subtests are automatically scored.

What are the main strengths of the TEA-Ch2?

It separates different components of attention, covers ages 5-15, uses engaging, age-appropriate tasks, combines paper and computer tasks, has a large UK normative sample, and provides indices, scaled scores, and percentile ranks.

What is an important advantage of TEA-Ch2 over a CPT?

TEA-Ch2 provides a broader attentional profile across selective attention, sustained attention, and, for older children, switching. A CPT mainly focuses on sustained attention/vigilance within one continuous repetitive paradigm.

How does TEA-Ch2 relate to attention theory?

It reflects the idea that attention is not one single ability. It separates core aspects such as selective attention, sustained attention, and attentional switching.

Why is separating attention components clinically useful?

Two children can both appear 'inattentive' but have different underlying profiles - for example, one may struggle to select relevant information, while another struggles to maintain attention over time.