Conners Continuous Auditory Test of Attention (Conners CATA)

Purpose: Assesses auditory processing and attention-related problems

Age: 8+

Time: 14 minutes

Format: Software

The Conners Continuous Auditory Test of Attention (Conners CATA) assesses auditory processing and attention-related problems by indexing the respondent's performance in areas of inattentiveness, impulsivity, sustained attention, auditory laterality and auditory mobility. Thus, it can be used to evaluate attention disorders and neurological functioning.

Overview

• 200 trials
• Two types of trials and sounds:
  • Warned Trials: low tone, followed by the high tone
  • Unwarned Trials: high tone by itself, without warning
• Descriptive information about the respondent's Auditory Laterality and Mobility
• Results can be broken down into blocks to track the respondent's performance over the course of the test.

During the 14 minute administration, respondents are presented with high-tone sounds that are either preceded by a low-tone warning sound (warned trials) or played alone (unwarned trials).

Respondents are instructed to respond only to high-tone sounds on warned trials and to ignore those on unwarned trials. By indexing the respondent's performance in areas of inattentiveness, impulsivity, sustained attention, auditory laterality and auditory mobility, the Conners CATA can be a useful adjunct to the process of diagnosing Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other neurological conditions related to auditory attention.

The Conners CATA is available as an unlimited use program.

Conners CATA Sample Report

System Requirements

• Intel Core i3 or equivalent performance
• 2 GB of Ram
• Windows XP or higher
• 1 USB port
• A headset with stereo sound, with left and right ears clearly marked.

Version 5.9.1 Software Update

Recent hardware changes and the sound drivers for Windows 10 have resulted in some users reporting difficulties with the sound component of the Conners CATA.
An update was released on May 16, version 5.9.1, to ensure reporting is consistent for all completed assessments; however, the sound issue related to some Windows 10 environments remains. MHS are working on version 5.9.2, to resolve this issue and strengthen our support for the most current Microsoft certified hardware.

That will be released that shortly.

To update to version 5.9.1:

1. Connect your computer to the Internet.
2. Plug your Conners CATA Software USB key into your computer, and launch the Conners CATA Software.
3. From the Help menu, select Check for Updates. Your internet browser will launch and open our secure MHS update site where you will be informed that an update is available.
4. Click Download Update, then follow the on-screen procedures to install the update.