Feasibility of the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) and its relationship to intellectual function in children and adolescents with borderline intellectual functioning: A Norwegian mental health study.
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| Title: | Feasibility of the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) and its relationship to intellectual function in children and adolescents with borderline intellectual functioning: A Norwegian mental health study. |
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| Authors: | Karlsen, Geir (AUTHOR), Elgen, Irene Bircow (AUTHOR), Døsen, Kristina Egge (AUTHOR), Lundervold, Astri J. (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Child Neuropsychology. May2026, Vol. 32 Issue 4, p466-481. 16p. |
| Subjects: | Neuropsychological tests, Intellectual disabilities, Attention testing, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Teenagers, Child mental health services, Cognitive ability, Response inhibition |
| Abstract: | Continuous Performance Tests are commonly part of neuropsychological evaluations. This study investigates the feasibility and applicability of the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) in a clinical paediatric mental health sample, focusing on children with Borderline Intellectual Functioning (BIF; Full-Scale IQ [FSIQ] of 70-84). A total of 128 children and adolescents aged 6-15 years were assessed using the TOVA and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth Edition (WISC-V), alongside parent and teacher ratings of ADHD symptoms and evaluations of TOVA performance validity. 45% of the total sample met the criteria for BIF. The TOVA demonstrated high feasibility, evidenced by a 94% completion rate with no significant differences in test completion across groups. Children with BIF exhibited significantly more Commission Errors (CE), indicative of reduced inhibitory control, while sustained attention measures showed no significant differences. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that FSIQ accounted for a small but significant proportion of variance in CE scores, and minimal variance in sustained attention measures. These findings support the TOVA's applicability in clinical paediatric settings, including populations with BIF, yet underscore the necessity of considering intellectual functioning when interpreting inhibitory control metrics. The results emphasize the importance of developing normative data for the TOVA across a broad IQ range to enhance clinical decision-making in cognitively diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Child Neuropsychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: pbh DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection An: 193226976 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Feasibility of the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) and its relationship to intellectual function in children and adolescents with borderline intellectual functioning: A Norwegian mental health study. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Karlsen%2C+Geir%22">Karlsen, Geir</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Elgen%2C+Irene+Bircow%22">Elgen, Irene Bircow</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Døsen%2C+Kristina+Egge%22">Døsen, Kristina Egge</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lundervold%2C+Astri+J%2E%22">Lundervold, Astri J.</searchLink> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Child+Neuropsychology%22">Child Neuropsychology</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 32 Issue 4, p466-481. 16p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neuropsychological+tests%22">Neuropsychological tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intellectual+disabilities%22">Intellectual disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attention+testing%22">Attention testing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attention-deficit+hyperactivity+disorder%22">Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teenagers%22">Teenagers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+mental+health+services%22">Child mental health services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+ability%22">Cognitive ability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Response+inhibition%22">Response inhibition</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Continuous Performance Tests are commonly part of neuropsychological evaluations. This study investigates the feasibility and applicability of the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) in a clinical paediatric mental health sample, focusing on children with Borderline Intellectual Functioning (BIF; Full-Scale IQ [FSIQ] of 70-84). A total of 128 children and adolescents aged 6-15 years were assessed using the TOVA and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth Edition (WISC-V), alongside parent and teacher ratings of ADHD symptoms and evaluations of TOVA performance validity. 45% of the total sample met the criteria for BIF. The TOVA demonstrated high feasibility, evidenced by a 94% completion rate with no significant differences in test completion across groups. Children with BIF exhibited significantly more Commission Errors (CE), indicative of reduced inhibitory control, while sustained attention measures showed no significant differences. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that FSIQ accounted for a small but significant proportion of variance in CE scores, and minimal variance in sustained attention measures. These findings support the TOVA's applicability in clinical paediatric settings, including populations with BIF, yet underscore the necessity of considering intellectual functioning when interpreting inhibitory control metrics. The results emphasize the importance of developing normative data for the TOVA across a broad IQ range to enhance clinical decision-making in cognitively diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Child Neuropsychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1080/09297049.2025.2570298 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 16 StartPage: 466 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Neuropsychological tests Type: general – SubjectFull: Intellectual disabilities Type: general – SubjectFull: Attention testing Type: general – SubjectFull: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder Type: general – SubjectFull: Teenagers Type: general – SubjectFull: Child mental health services Type: general – SubjectFull: Cognitive ability Type: general – SubjectFull: Response inhibition Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Feasibility of the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) and its relationship to intellectual function in children and adolescents with borderline intellectual functioning: A Norwegian mental health study. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Karlsen, Geir – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Elgen, Irene Bircow – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Døsen, Kristina Egge – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Lundervold, Astri J. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 05 Text: May2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 09297049 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 32 – Type: issue Value: 4 Titles: – TitleFull: Child Neuropsychology Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
