In This Issue
- Psychologists and the T.O.V.A.
Psychologists and the T.O.V.A.
Whether assessing the psychological and cognitive impact of a head injury, diagnosing a learning disability, or describing the functional impact of a mood or anxiety disorder, psychologists rely on a range of clinical instruments in their work. In addition to measures of intelligence, personality, mood and academic achievement, many psychologists include the Test of Variables of Attention (T.O.V.A.®) in their toolkit.
Psychologists and other health professionals use the T.O.V.A. to obtain critical information about a patient's sustained attention, self-control, and adaptability. These aspects of executive functioning are essential for effective goal-directed behavior and are impacted in a wide range of disorders. The T.O.V.A. also provides important information about response bias ("faking bad") in adults seeking treatment of ADHD. Using the T.O.V.A., psychologists confirm clinical diagnosis, monitor treatment response, and confirm the validity of reported symptoms. No other assessment tool does all this.
The T.O.V.A. provides information that is different from checklists or self-report measures. It is "an important source of unique, objective, and valid information" (Forbes, 1998, p. 474) about essential aspects of cognitive functioning. While behavioral observations and questionnaires provide useful information about the cognitive and behavioral symptoms of attention problems, the T.O.V.A. provides information that is less subjective and more precise than that which is obtained using methods that rely on self-report or third parties.
What's more, the graphics produced by the T.O.V.A. provide an outstanding visual aid when giving feedback to patients and their families - they can see their attention problems. This adds value to your work, and builds patient confidence in your diagnosis and recommendations.
The T.O.V.A. is widely used as a tool to monitor treatment response in patients being treated for ADHD with medication, neurotherapy, and other approaches (Fuchs et al., 2003; Jensen & Kenny, 2004; Wada et al., 2000). With the T.O.V.A., you get clear, objective evidence of treatment efficacy for patients and their caregivers. They can see that your treatment is working.
Sustained attention, self-control, and adaptability are affected in many clinical disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, traumatic head injury, ADHD, and medical disorders that impact cognitive functioning. The T.O.V.A. can help characterize the functioning of your patients as part of a comprehensive evaluation, or it can be used as part of a shorter evaluation targeting symptoms of ADHD.
Find out more about the T.O.V.A.! Visit us at www.tovatest.com or write to info@tovatest.com for more information. And look for us at the American Psychological Association Convention August 6th through 9th in Toronto!
References
Forbes, G. B. (1998). Clinical utility of the test of variables of attention (TOVA) in the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 54(4), 461-476. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4679(199806)54:4<461::AID-JCLP8>3.0.CO;2-Q.
Fuchs, T., Birbaumer, N., Lutzenberger, W., Gruzelier, J. H., & Kaiser, J. (2003). Neurofeedback Treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children: A Comparison with Methylphenidate. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 28(1), 1-12. doi: 10.1023/A:1022353731579.
Jensen, P. S., & Kenny, D. T. (2004). The effects of yoga on the attention and behavior of boys with Attention-Deficit/hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). J Atten Disord, 7(4), 205-216. doi: 10.1177/108705470400700403.
Wada, N., Yamashita, Y., Matsuishi, T., Ohtani, Y., & Kato, H. (2000). The test of variables of attention (TOVA) is useful in the diagnosis of Japanese male children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Brain and Development, 22(6), 378-382.