IVA+Plus^™

IVA+Plus – Visual & Auditory Attention Testing

The state-of-the-art in computerized psychological testing of attentional functioning

IVA+Plus (formerly known as the IVA) is a unique combined auditory and visual continuous performance test which provides data in order to to help psychologists and other clinicians better assess the ADHD symptoms of individuals ages 6 through adult. Following the diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM-IV, IVA+Plus provides data to help psychologists and other clinicians in making their diagnosis and to facilitate their ability to differentiate between the four sub-types of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder – ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type (formerly called ADD), ADHD Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type, ADHD Combined Type, and ADHD Not Otherwise Specified.

IVA+Plus: A quick and easy to use ADHD Testing Tool

The IVA+Plus main test task, which lasts approximately thirteen minutes, presents 500 trials of "1"s and "2"s in a pseudo-random pattern requiring the shifting of sets between the visual and auditory modalities. The subject is required to click the mouse only when he sees or hears a "1" and to inhibit clicking when he sees or hears a "2." During some segments of the IVA+Plus test, the "1"s are more common than the "2"s, creating a response set which "pulls" for errors of commission, or impulsivity. During alternate segments of the IVA+Plus test, the "1"s occur rarely; this invites more errors of omission, or inattention, since the subject must remain vigilant while he waits for a "1" to occur.
 

Scoring the IVA+Plus

IVA+Plus Narrative Interpretive Report Writers

IVA+Plus Investigator

IVA+Plus Foreign Language Option

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IVA+Plus Research Bibliography

IVA+Plus Billing Codes
 

IVA+Plus: A well-normed ADHD Testing Tool

IVA+Plus' normative group (N=1700) is divided by gender, and grouped by age as follows: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17-18, 19-21, 22-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-54, 55-65, 66-96. The database was primarily collected in Richmond, Texas, Michigan, California and Florida. All individuals were excluded who were in therapy, had a history of LD, hyperactivity or attention problems, who were on any type of medication (other than birth control unless >55 years of age), who had a history of neurological problems (dementia, stroke or TBI) and those who could not validly complete the test.  A relatively equal number of males and females were included in each age/sex group and an effort was made to have about 30 males and 30 females in each age group though this was not always possible. At about 30 in each group, the standard error ranged between 3-4 points on a standard scale for all the IVA+Plus scales. Many different ethnic groups were included in the normative sample, but this data has not been broken down. The normative data is available in the IVA+Plus program sub-directory and can be used in most cases to manually calculate the standard scores, except when the standard deviation is small and the percent raw score reported in the reports has been rounded before being displayed (mainly an issue with young adults who make few errors.)

IVA+Plus provides psychologists and other clinicians with a wealth of data

All IVA+Plus scores are presented both as raw scores and as quotient scores. The basis for statistical analysis is the same as that used for most IQ tests; all quotient scores have a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Applying these familiar interpretative guidelines makes it easy for you to interpret test results.

IVA+Plus’ scores are divided into four categories — Attention, Response Control, Attribute and Validity. The primary IVA+Plus diagnostic scales are the Full Scale Response Control Quotient and Full Scale Attention Quotient scores.

The IVA+Plus Full Scale Response Control Quotient is based on separate Auditory and Visual Response Control Quotient scores. These Response Control Quotient scores are derived from visual and auditory Prudence, Consistency and Stamina scales:
 

• Prudence is a measure of impulsivity and response inhibition as evidenced by three different types of errors of commission on the IVA+Plus.
   

• Consistency measures the general reliability and variability of response times and is used to help measure the ability to stay on task.
   

• Stamina compares the mean reaction times of correct responses during the first 200 trials of the IVA+Plus test to the last 200 trials of the IVA+Plus test. This score is used to identify problems related to sustaining attention and effort over time.

The IVA+Plus Full Scale Attention Quotient is derived from separate Auditory and Visual Attention Quotients. The Attention Quotient scores are based on equal measures of visual and auditory Vigilance, Focus and Speed:

• Vigilance is a measure of inattention as evidenced by two different types of errors of omission on the IVA+Plus test task.
   

• Focus reflects the total variability of mental processing speed for all correct responses on the IVA+Plus test task.
   

• Speed reflects the average reaction time for all correct responses throughout the IVA+Plus test and helps identify attention processing problems related to slow discriminatory mental processing.

The IVA+Plus Fine Motor Regulation scale provides additional information by recording off-task behaviors with the mouse, including multiple clicks, spontaneous clicks during instruction periods, anticipatory clicks and holding the mouse button down. In behavioral terms, the Fine Motor Regulation score quantifies fidgetiness and restlessness associated with small motor hyperactivity.

IVA+Plus’ Attribute scores provides the clinician with data regarding the client’s learning style. These scales are:

• Balance — indicates whether the test taker processes information more quickly visually or aurally, or is equally quick in either modality.
   

• Readiness — indicates whether the test taker processes information more quickly when the demand is quicker or when it is slower. This scale can provide a subtle measure of inattention when the test taker just “can’t quite keep up” with the demand.

IVA+Plus’ Validity scales are auditory and visual Comprehension, Persistence and Sensory/Motor:

• Comprehension identifies random responding, which would lead to faulty interpretation of other IVA+Plus scale scores. Research has shown this to be the single most sensitive sub-scale in discriminating ADHD.
   

• Persistence is a measure of motivation when the test taker is asked to do “one more thing.” It can also reflect motor or mental fatigue.
   

• The Sensory/Motor scales are used to rule out possible neurological, psychological or learning problems as evidenced by slow simple reaction time.

IVA+Plus:

• Provides a wealth of objective data. Following the guidelines of the DSM-IV, IVA+Plus’ unique integrated format provides much more information than can be drawn from subjective rating scales or single modality CPTs.

• Identifies both auditory and visual inattention and impulsivity. IVA+Plus mixes visual and auditory stimuli, creating a "real-life" task, increasing test sensitivity and power.

• Helps improve diagnostic accuracy. In a validity study, IVA+Plus correctly identified clinician diagnosed ADHD children 92.3% of the time and had a low false positive rate of 10%.

• Accurately assesses treatment and medication effects. IVA+Plus research studies demonstrate excellent test-retest reliability and stability.

Top 10 reasons to invest in IVA+Plus

• IVA+Plus saves you time. IVA+Plus enables psychologists and other clinicians to measure and evaluate both auditory and visual inattention and impulsivity separately and simultaneously in less than 20 minutes.
   

• IVA+Plus provides psychologists and other clinicians with wealth of objective data. Following the guidelines of the DSM-IV for the diagnosis of ADHD , IVA+Plus' unique integrated format provides provides much more information than can be drawn from subjective rating scales or from any other commercially available CPT.
   

• IVA+Plus provides objective data to help psychologists and other clinicians improve their diagnostic accuracy. In a validity study, IVA+Plus correctly identified clinician diagnosed ADHD children 92.3% of the time and had a low positive rate of 10%.
   

• IVA+Plus helps psychologists and other clinicians better communicate the aspects of ADHD symptoms to parents, teachers and other healthcare providers. IVA+Plus' visual graphs give skeptics a clear, concrete picture of measurable data to support clinicians' diagnostic interpretations.
   

• IVA+Plus gives psychologists and other clinicians unique insight. IVA+Plus' Attribute scales provide healthcare professionals with patterns of responding regarding learning styles and tell whether the client is a visual or auditory learning.
   

• IVA+Plus is easy to administer. All test instructions are presented by the computer both visually and aurally. IVA+Plus' natural-sounding voice provides a highly structured, standardized, easy-to-use administration procedure.
   

• IVA+Plus is easy for the clinician to interpret. Using the same type of scoring system as IQ test, IVA+Plus' nterpretation is familiar to clinicians and easy to learn.
   

• IVA+Plus helps clinician's garner more objective data as part of their comprehensive evaluation.  Research studies demonstrate excellent test-retest reliability and stability, making IVA+Plus a potentially useful instrument for measuring treatment and medication effects.
   

• IVA+Plus can help clinicians screen for possible emotional and neurological problems. IVA+Plus' Validity scales tell the healthcare professional if their clients are responding randomly or abnormally slowly. (IVA+Plus' response time measure is accurate + or - 8 ms.)
   

• IVA+Plus enables the clinician to immediately and easily analyze the test data - there is no need for the test administrator to ever mail in anything. In addition, IVA+Plus stores all raw data so future analyses based on research may be applied to any previously collected data set.
   

"I have been using the IVA+Plus Continuous Performance Test for a number of years in my clinical practice. It is a superb evaluation tool and has performed year after year without flaw or failure. Thank you for developing your wonderful and effective program. The quality of your products is unsurpassed and your customer support is superb."

– John A. Garlock, Ed.D., Ph.D., LPC, LMFT, LCDC, CEAP, Clinical Director,
The Family Resource Center,
Woodlands, Texas