Relations between visual and auditory continuous performance tests in a clinical population: a descriptive study

Increased interest in auditory continuous performance tests (CPTs) exists despite the absence of a clear understanding about this procedure. The relation between auditory and visual CPTs and associations with IQ, achievement, and memory are evaluated in a referred sample of 634 children, ages 5.5 to 17.9. Age effects are found with CPT performance, regardless of modality. Total number correct or number of commissions correlations across tasks were greater than within-task number correct-number of commissions relations. The mean visual minus auditory correct difference score was 7.01; the mean commission difference score was -.85. Difference scores decreased with age and were not consistently related to other measures. Those with the lowest number correct on both CPTs (<25th percentile) were younger and had weaker short-term auditory memory and verbal learning skills; those falling in the problem quartile on commissions (>75th percentile) were younger and had poorer reading, verbal memory, and verbal learning. Total error scores (omissions + commissions) were inversely related to age. The auditory CPT has clinical utility, but other factors must be considered.