Validation of the Standardized Touchscreen Assessment of Cognition with neurotypical adults

Portable electronic devices are increasingly being used for clinical assessment of individuals with cognitive deficits. Prior to implementation of tablet-based assessments, comparison with other standard measures is needed.

The study purpose was to compare an iPad administered cognitive assessment known as the Standardized Touchscreen Assessment of Cognition (STAC) to the Cognitive Linguistic Quick Test (CLQT) and the Cognitive Assessment of Minnesota (CAM).

Eighty-eight neurotypical participants completed the STAC, CAM, and CLQT in a randomized order. The researchers compared the participants' responses across similar subtests. Performance across iPad comfort levels was also explored.

Findings revealed moderate correlations in some areas of assessment: generative naming and immediate visual memory. The correlations varied across age groups within each area of assessment with no consistent pattern. Additionally, people with comfort using an iPad performed significantly better on three areas of STAC assessment (generative naming category and first letter, and auditory working memory) compared to people who reported no iPad comfort.

Initial testing of the STAC in a neurotypical population identified moderate correlations with standard measures in some subtests; however, additional testing of the STAC is needed to determine the clinical utility and validity of assessing populations with cognitive impairments.