PADDS Documentation

• Setting the Base Rate
• Target Tests (TTEF)
• Information Handout(pdf)
• User Qualification Form(pdf)
• PADDS Brochure(pdf)
• Testimonials

PADDS Support

• PADDS Program FAQ
• PADDS Support FAQ
• PADDS Tutorials

Sample Reports(pdf)

• Cognitive Tests (TTEF)
• SNAP-IV Parent/Teacher
• Case Study Reports
• PADDS Scoring
• Bell Curve Psychometrics
• Diagnostic Interview(CADI)

PADDS Research

• Reliability & Validity
• ROC of PADDS
• Clinical Demographics
• Incremental Validity
• PADDS Report Features
• Target Test Development
• Clinical Manual Excerpt
• Research Opportunities
• Our Important Associates

Are there any special qualifications for using the PADDS Program?
Yes, the PADDS is considered a class B instrument and you must be qualified to use it. When you purchase PADDS you will need to fill out the User Qualification and Agreement form. You will fill this out when you purchase PADDS. If you order PADDS over the phone or through the mail, please download this form, fill it out and include it with your order.

Can I see any research on the PADDS program?
Yes, we are very proud of our research so we post it on our website, look for the PADDS Research Links section on any of our website pages.

What were the ages of the children that participated in your study?
The children's age range was 6-12 years of age.

How many children were in the study?
There were 725 children from seven different states.

Do you have any plans to develop a PADDS Version for adolescents and adults?
Yes, Our adolescent and adult versions of executive function and auditory attention screening measures are nearing completion.

How is the PADDS program different from a CPT?
PADDS Target Tests of Executive Functioning moves beyond measuring routine persistence (sustained attention) often found with traditional continuous performance tests. It taps additional aspects of executive functioning such as: Activating, Focusing, Planning, Organization, Working Memory, Modulating Emotions, and Sustaining Effort.

Can anyone use the PADDS program?
No, The PADDS system is intended to work as an adjunct with proper clinical experience and as such is not intended for use as stand alone diagnostic measure. The PADDS is a class B instrument and you must be qualified to use it.

Do I need any other programs on my computer to use PADDS?
Yes you will need a program like ADOBE Reader to view your reports, a copy of ADOBE Reader is included on the PADDS software disc for your convenience.

Do I need to buy any protocols or other forms to use PADDS?
No, All necessary documents, protocols and reports are included with the program and printable at any time.

Can I install PADDS on more than one computer?
To install PADDS on more than one computer you need to buy additional licenses for each computer.

When I enter my unlocking code do I need to put spaces or dashes between the sets of numbers?
No, it will work with or without, the spaces or dashes make it easier to verify that you entered the number correctly.

Can I transfer the license from one computer to another computer?
Yes you can transfer the license. Follow the "Remove a License" steps in the "License Manager Help" under "Register" in the "Tools and Help" section of the PADDS program. There are also instructions in the Installation and Use manual on how to do this or you can call us toll-free and we can walk you through it. Before you remove the license it would be a good idea to go through the "License Manager Help" to familiarize yourself with the steps.

Where can I find "Tutorials" for the proper use of the PADDS program?
Tutorials are located in the PADDS program, on the PADDS main screen, click on the "Tools and Help" button. This brings up the "PADDS TOOLS and HELP" screen, click on "Instructions" then in the drop down menu click on "Tutorials". Tutorials are also on the PADDS disc and/or on our "PADDS Tutorials" page on our website under "PADDS Links".

What is a Base Rate and how do I set it in the PADDS program?
For an explanation of calculating Base Rates and how to set it in the PADDS program, please see our Setting the Base Rate page
If you are currently using a version of PADDS that doesn't allow for Base Rate adjustment you need to upgrade. The free upgrade is available on our website, please contact us for assistance.

Should I enter just the required information in the PADDS Patient Information Database?
You can enter just the required information but we strongly suggest you enter all of the information on the form to reduce duplicate records.

What is the Diagnostic Interview or CADI?
The Diagnostic Interview and the CADI are the same thing. The CADI stands for Computer Administered Diagnostic Interview, it's used as an important primary screening measure for possible co-morbid conditions that can mimic or exacerbate ADHD symptoms. It covers Medical History/System Review; Developmental History; Social/Emotional Functioning; Depression/Anxiety; Attention/Hyperactivity and Behavior/School History, there are a total of 113 questions.

Why do I need to enter a password when using the Self Running CADI is complete?
The Self Running CADI is designed to be entered by the parent or guardian directly, the password prevents any accidental or unwanted access to private data.

Is the SNAP-IV that you use the Swanson, Nolan and Pelham?
Yes, James M. Swanson Ph.D. gave us permission to include the SNAP-IV in the PADDS program. We chose to use the SNAP-IV after conducting an extensive literature review and discovering the excellent psychometric properties and effect size associated with it. (.90-.97).

How long does it take to complete the three Target Tests?
It takes about 30 minutes for all three tests. Target Recognition takes about 8-10 minutes, this is the longest one. Target Sequencing is a little shorter, and Target Tracking is a little shorter yet.

Does the patient need to be supervised when they take the tests?
Yes, the tests are supervised, a trained clinician needs to instruct the patient on taking the test and be there to reinstruct or redirect the patient if needed. Also behavior observations need to be recorded on the Behavior Observations form for each test.

Can the patient sit in their parent or guardian's lap during testing?
No, proper testing procedures need to be followed, see the Installation and Use manual for instructions.

Can I just skip the Orient Patient on each test and let the patient start testing?
No, you always give brief verbal instructions immediately followed by the computer instruction by clicking on the "Orient Patient" button. This is necessary to insure the patient fully understands the task before testing begins. The only exception is a patient who is returning for a third or fourth retesting and you are certain they understand the task at hand. There are instructions and a description for each test in the Installation and Use manual and the Clinical manual.

Can I export the reports?
Yes, you can export the reports in many popular formats. Once you generate the report click on the export button and choose how you want to export it. There are instructions in the Installation and Use manual that covers exporting the reports.

If I am testing a patient and need to quit the "Target Tests" how do I stop the tests?
In each test there is a hidden escape spot, in Target Sequencing and Target Recognition it is in the lower left of the screen, in Target Tracking it is in the upper right of the screen. See your Installation and Use manual or one of tutorials, located in the PADDS program, or on the PADDS disc, or on our "PADDS Tutorials" in the PADDS links page on our website.
Please note if the tests have to be escaped before they are finished no test scores will be saved and the PADDS per-use model won't deduct a use from the remaining uses.

Do I have to run all three tests every time?
Yes, the tests were researched and normed as a battery of three. For this reason all three tests must be run on the same day, see the manuals for proper testing procedure.

Can I change the Patient number the PADDS program assigns each patient?
No you should not change the patient numbers.

Should I leave other programs open while I am running the PADDS program?
No you should not leave any other programs open during testing, it can interfere with the PADDS program and or distract the patient when they are being tested.
Due to the confidential nature of patient information it is common practice to have a computer dedicated to testing.

Do I have to calculate the scores for the Target Tests?
No, the PADDS program performs all the scoring for you.

What is Evidence-based Assessment?
A common misunderstanding about Evidence Based Assessment, (EBA), stems from the fact that there are different meanings used by different professions when describing Evidence based Assessments, instruments, or treatments. In the Psychological Test Publishing field, for example, many folks referring to EBA mean to suggest that the treatment, intervention or assessment has some level of empirical evidence to support it's use. However, the true medical model is the accepted method for making an Evidence Based Assessment. In most areas of the medical field, the use of EBA is more specific to mean that you have evaluated the scientific literature and reviewed the published findings of the statistical relationship between a given condition and an assessment measure, treatment or intervention. This is recorded as the effect size of the relationship. These published effect sizes can be converted to useful metrics namely sensitivity and specificity, which are then easily translated into likelihood ratios, allowing the clinician to build a predictive index of the most useful approaches in assessment and treatment. This is referred to as incremental validity or the use of multiple measures in combination to add predictive power to proposed treatment and/or diagnosis.

What is the Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) of the PADDS?
ROC Analysis: The ROC curve is a visual representation of the sensitivity (percentage of true positive that are correctly identified) of a test versus its specificity (percentage of cases without ADHD correctly identified) at each potential cut point for diagnosis. In other words, the ROC provides a comparison of all possible cut-points for diagnostic utility and therefore assists the test developer in selecting and verifying the most appropriate cut point to use to maximize both sensitivity and specificity in determining Positive and Negative Predictive Power (PPP and NPP). From this information, the researcher can then produce likelihood ratios to further improve the diagnostic utility of the test.
A diagnostic test for a particular condition should classify patients into two groups: those with the condition and those without. A test is assessed by its ability to diagnose the condition correctly, whether this is positive or negative. The sensitivity of a diagnostic test is the proportion of patients who have ADHD and are correctly identified by the test. The specificity is the proportion of patients who do not have ADHD and are correctly identified by the test. When the cut-off value for a continuous diagnostic variable is increased (assuming that larger values indicate an increased probability), the proportion of both true and false positives decreases. These proportions are the sensitivity and 1 – specificity, respectively. A graph of sensitivity against 1 – specificity is called a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. A perfect test would have sensitivity and specificity both equal to 1. Realistically, good tests should be somewhere close to this ideal.
See our Clinical manual or the ROC of PADDS page for a more complete description.

Why do we use likelihood ratios with a nomogram for our predictive index?
Likelihood ratios, (LR), are key concepts in the interpretation of diagnostic test results. They combine the information in both sensitivity and specificity into a more meaningful number.
The LR is used to assess how good a diagnostic test is and to help in selecting an appropriate diagnostic test or sequence of tests. They have advantages over sensitivity and specificity alone because they are less likely to change with the prevalence of the disorder, they can be calculated for several levels of the test result, most importantly, they can be used to combine the results of multiple diagnostic tests which then can be used to calculate a post-test probability for a target disorder.
See our Clinical manual or the ROC of PADDS page for a more complete description.

What is a Nomogram?
The short description of a nomogram is, a graphical means of displaying the resulting values of more complex equations and calculations, similar in principle to the slide rule.
Collecting diagnostic information from multiple sources is a hallmark of modern evidence-based assessment practices. However, combining the results for the purpose of interpreting, illustrating, and describing the overall perspective can be difficult. In addition to using likelihood ratios as a more useful way to express the sensitivity and specificity of each test result, we can also efficiently combine the results from multiple measures, using the likelihood ratios and incrementally graphing each effect on a nomogram, into an overall cumulative probability.
See our Clinical manual or the ROC of PADDS page for a more complete description.

Are there Research Opportunities for the Target Tests of Executive Functioning for purposes other than ADHD?
Yes, we are currently engaged in an MEG study. We are currently BETA testing our adolescent and adult version of the Target Tests of Executive Functioning. If you are interested in being a BETA tester contact us.
We are always open to using the Target Tests of Executive Functioning in new research areas.

What is the most important thing I need to do to use PADDS properly?
Read the manuals. The Installation and Use manual teaches you how to use PADDS. It's 31 pages, we included a lot of screen shots of the program, a picture is worth a thousand words so there isn't so much to read. If you lose your manuals they are available on the PADDS program disc. If you lost the disc the manuals are in the PADDS program.