Table 2.

Tests Assessing Cognitive Aspects of Attention

Dimension of Attention	Definition	Test Used	Task Description
Focus	Selective attention to appropriate stimuli	WISC–R Coding	The child must rapidly identify and write in symbols associated with numbers
Shift	Appropriate flexibility in response to new information; allocation of attentional resources	Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST)	The child must sort cards based on one of three underlying principles: color, shape, or number of items on card. When the sorting category is guessed, it is changed. Few categories and perseverance on the wrong category indicate lack of flexibility
Sustain	Ability to maintain alert state and attention to task	Continuous Performance Test (CPT) (also called Vigilance [VIG] Test)	From letters rapidly displayed on a computer screen, the child must identify a predesignated signal without missing letters or responding impulsively to wrong letters (i.e., false alarms). Reaction time also is measured
Encode	Ability to learn new material and manipulate material in working memory while processing into long-term memory	• Paired Associate (PA) Task (also called Zoo Task)	Cards with animals are repeatedly paired with “zoo homes” of different colors. The child must recall the correct zoo when presented with the animal card
		• Number Recall subtest from the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K–ABC)	The child is read a series of numbers and must repeat them accurately
		• Arithmetic subtest from the K–ABC	The child must display basic math skills

WISC–R = Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Revised.