An Investigation of Visual Attention in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

What is known as Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) today has been known by other titles in the past such as minimal brain dysfunction and Hyperkinetic Reaction of Childhood. These label changes represented the change in knowledge and understanding of the disorder over time. Today, it is thought that a main component to the disorder is an attention deficit. The problem is that of yet, the cause of this deficit has not been identified. In an attempt to further understand this disorder, visual attention studies are being conducted. Following this lead, the Visual Attention Analyzer was used to investigate a link between ADHD and visual attention. As the UFOV™ had never been used as a measure of visual attention in children, two studies were performed. The first study was to establish the UFOV™ Visual Attention Analyzer as a reliable measure of visual attention in children. It was found using the test-retest method that the UFOV™ is a test of moderate reliability for six and seven year olds. As there was little variability in the eight to fifteen year olds\u27 performance, the Pearson correlation coefficient was truncated, producing a low reliability score. When the discrepancy in pre and post composite scores were examined, in this regard, it was found that the UFOV™ was actually a more reliable measure for the older children than the younger children. With the question concerning the reliability of the UFOV™ as a measure of visual attention in children answered, the second study addressed primarily whether there was a difference between children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) characteristics and normal childrens\u27 performance of the UFOV™ tasks. Based on the most stringent definition of ADHD used in the study, the UFOV™ did not discriminate between the seven year old children with ADHD characteristics and normal children. It did discriminate between the eight through twelve year old children with ADHD characteristics and normal children

Longitudinal Assessment of Older Drivers in a DMV Setting

A brief battery of functional assessments designed to detect crash riskamong older drivers was developed and evaluated initially in 1999 in Marylandmotor vehicle licensing sites following the routine vision screening exam. Thisbattery contained a number of cognitive tests (e.g., UFOV® subtest 2, the closuresubtest of the Motor Free Visual Perception Test (MVPT), Trails A and B, cuedrecall, delayed recall), and several physical measures (e.g., Rapid Pace Walk,Head and Neck Rotation, Foot Tap, Arm Reach). Older adults (N=4,173; meanage = 69 years) were approached by the staff after license renewal and asked tohelp evaluate the brief battery. Of the 4,173 older adults approached at the fieldsites, 2,114 individuals 55-96 years of age participated. Subsequently, the originalsample of 2,114 participants was invited to come in once again, during their fiveyearlicense renewal cycle, and the functional tests were administered once again.To date, 939 individuals have completed the second screening evaluation. Anexamination of the crash data from the interval between assessments for theseindividuals indicates that the same cognitive measures are predictive of at-faultcrashes. Furthermore, approximately 10% of those passing the assessment in 1999are now failing the assessment in 2004. Performance-based cognitive measuresare predictive of future at-fault motor vehicle collisions among older adults.Cognitive performance, in particular, is a salient predictor of subsequent crashinvolvement among older adults. High-risk older drivers can be identified throughbrief, performance-based measures administered in a DMV setting

The Longitudinal Impact of Cognitive Speed of Processing Training on Driving Mobility

Purpose: To examine how cognitive speed of processing training affects driving mobility across a 3-year period among older drivers. Design and Methods: Older drivers with poor Useful Field of View (UFOV) test performance (indicating greater risk for subsequent at-fault crashes and mobility declines) were randomly assigned to either a speed of processing training or a social and computer contact control group. Driving mobility of these 2 groups was compared with a group of older adults who did not score poorly on the UFOV test (reference group) across a 3-year period. Results: Older drivers with poor UFOV test scores who did not receive training experienced greater mobility declines as evidenced by decreased driving exposure and space and increased driving difficulty at 3 years. Those at risk for mobility decline who received training did not differ across the 3-year period from older adults in the reference group with regard to driving exposure, space, and most aspects of driving difficulty. Implications: Cognitive speed of processing training can not only improve cognitive performance but also protect against mobility declines among older drivers. Scientifically proven cognitive training regimens have the potential to enhance the everyday lives of older adults