The Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-Ch): Patterns of Performance in Children With ADHD and Clinical Controls

• Published in: Child neuropsychology Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 251 - 264
• Main Authors: Heaton, Shelley C., Reader, Steven K., Preston, Andrew S., Fennell, Eileen B., Puyana, Olivia E., Gill, Nicole, Johnson, James H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis Group 01.12.2001
• Subjects: Adjustment Disorders - diagnosis; Adjustment Disorders - psychology; Adolescent; Attention; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders - diagnosis; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders - psychology; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - psychology; Child; Comorbidity; Conduct Disorder - diagnosis; Conduct Disorder - psychology; Female; Humans; Learning Disorders - diagnosis; Male; Neuropsychological Tests - statistics & numerical data; Psychometrics - statistics & numerical data; Reference Values
• ISSN: 0929-7049; 1744-4136
• DOI: 10.1076/chin.7.4.251.8736

The present study explores the utility of the Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-Ch) as a measure of the attentional impairments displayed by children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Sixty-three children with ADHD and 23 non-ADHD Clinical Control children were compared on subtests of the TEA-Ch reflecting three attentional domains: sustained, selective, and attentional control. Results show that children with ADHD performed significantly worse than clinical controls on subtests of sustained attention and attentional control. The groups did not differ, however, on subtests of selective attention. These findings suggest that the TEA-Ch is sensitive to attentional deficits unique to ADHD and holds promise as a useful tool in the assessment of ADHD. Performance patterns and future directions are discussed.