What is TOVA Testing and How It Helps Patients in Mansfield, Cedar Hills & Lancaster, TX

We all encounter challenges when it comes to maintaining focus or concentrating while doing our best; for those times—whether it happened for you or a loved one—having clear answers is crucial to finding assistance as one begins their search for help. 

Much of the first step in receiving an accurate diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in families from Mansfield, Cedar Hills and the surrounding areas of Lancaster County often are based upon subjective interviews or questionnaires. A more objective way of diagnosing attention difficulties, however, could include testing through the use of a computer. 

T.O.V.A., or Test of Variables of Attention, is a computerized, easy-to-administer, non-invasive assessment tool that provides objective information to health providers relating to the patient’s capacity to attend to or control his/her impulse. T.O.V.A. is an excellent supplemental tool for assessing and treating an individual’s difficulty focusing. 

In this article, we will define T.O.V.A.; explain the T.O.V.A. process; and describe how T.O.V.A. will benefit individuals in the local community.

What is the T.O.V.A. Test?

The T.O.V.A.(Test of Variables of Attention) is a computer-based evaluation that gives objective information about attentional abilities as well as self (i.e., individual) behavior. There is no right or wrong answer to this exam. It serves only as a means of collecting specific data about how an individual finishes up on a monotonous visual task over many completed observations (i.e., responses). 

Thus, this exam is an unbiased evaluation, meaning it does not depend on how well someone can read English, speak either English or another language, or hear any language spoken.

An example may assist in understanding; consider how you would have your vision evaluated by a doctor who uses a chart to determine what type of lenses are necessary to improve one’s eyesight. 

The doctor will provide a detailed measurement of what each patient sees based on the individual’s performance on the chart. Similarly, the T.O.V.A. gives the physician an unbiased view of the level of attention each patient demonstrates, rather than relying solely upon the personal opinion of the patient regarding their level of attention.

How Does the T.O.V.A. Work?

The T.O.V.A. test is a simple and easy to complete test of attention. It usually lasts about twenty minutes. The test itself consists of playing a very simple computer game.

Here’s what happens during the test:

1. The Setup: You will be seated at a computer in a quiet room holding a small, simple button in your hand.
2. The Task: A target shape and a non-target shape (both called “target shapes”) will be presented to you at random intervals during the test as you play. You are instructed to push the button as quickly as you can each time you see the target shape. You are not to push the button each time you see the non-target shape.
3. The Challenge: The test will be boring. It is designed this way. The lack of stimulation makes it difficult to maintain focus on the task and, therefore, the test can provide a true measure of your real attention span when you are under low levels of stimulation.

The computer records your responses with millisecond accuracy. At the end of the test, the program generates a detailed report for your doctor.

What Does the T.O.V.A. Measure?

The T.O.V.A. evaluation document provides your physician with exact data relating to several key indicators of attention and impulsivity.

• Inattention: When the test is administered, your inattention is assessed by the number of times you missed pressing the button for a target figure during the exam. The measure of the number of times that the respondent misses this button correlates to the ability to stay focused on the task at hand.
• Impulsivity: The test of impulsivity is defined as the number of times that you press the button for a non-target figure. This is a good indicator of self-control.
• Response Time: The third measure is response time, which reflects how long it took you to press the button. If your response time is slow, you may have a problem with processing speed.
• Consistency: The fourth measure is consistency, which indicates whether you had a consistent response time throughout the course of the evaluation. Your ability to have a constant level of performance is indicative of fluctuating levels of attention.

Finally, these calculated scores will be compared to a very large database of scores from people who are the same age and gender as yourself and who do not have an attention disorder, allowing your physician to determine whether your scores are significantly outside of the age- and gender-related range.