Test of everyday attention explained

The Test of Everyday Attention (TEA) is designed to measure attention in adults age 18 through 80 years. The test comprises 8 subsets that represent everyday tasks and has three parallel forms.^[1] It assess three aspects of attentional functioning: selective attention, sustained attention, and mental shifting.^[2]

Test subsets

The subsets include the following:

• Map Search: looking at a large map of Philadelphia, patients search for symbols (selective attention)
• Elevator Counting: subjects listen to a series of tones, and must indicate a floor number
• Visual Elevator: subjects must count up and down in response to a series of visually presented "floors"
• Telephone Search: subjects must identify symbols in a simulated telephone directory, in some versions counting audio tones at the same time
• Lottery: subjects are asked to listen for their 'winning number' presented on audio tape, then write down the two letters preceding a specified number

TEA-Ch

There is also a version available for children and adolescents aged 6 to 15 years and 11 months, called the Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-Ch). The TEA-Ch has 9 subsets and two parallel forms. Administration time is 55 to 60 minutes.

TEA-Ch subsets

Selective attention is measured by two tasks requiring the ability to detect targets from distractors:^[3]

• Sky Search
• Map Mission

Sustained attention is measured by four tasks:

• Score
• Score DT
• Code Transmission
• Walk/Don't Walk

Further reading

• Book: A Compendium of Neuropsychological Tests: Administration, Norms, and Commentary . Strauss . Esther . Sherman . Elizabeth M. . Spreen . Otfried . 2006 . Oxford University Press . Oxford . 978-0-19-515957-8 . 14 July 2013 .

Notes and References

1. Book: Nancy Hebben. William Milberg. Essentials of Neuropsychological Assessment. 21 September 2013. 10 September 2009. John Wiley & Sons. 978-0-470-53589-9. 122–.
2. Book: Anthony David. Simon Fleminger. Michael Kopelman . Simon Lovestone . John Mellers. Lishman's Organic Psychiatry: A Textbook of Neuropsychiatry. 21 September 2013. 2 April 2012. John Wiley & Sons. 978-0-470-67507-6. 148–.
3. Book: Montreal Kim Cornish Professor McGill University, Canada and Monash University Melbourne. University of London John Wilding Emeritus Reader in Psychology Royal Holloway College. Attention, Genes, and Developmental Disorders. 21 September 2013. 15 July 2010. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-972067-5. 192–.