Question: I see a zero score for Sustained Attention.
Answer: The normative data behind the QIK test has very few omission errors. Because of this sharp drop in the normative data, an omission error in the QIK can result in large shifts in the standard score, often resulting in a standard score of zero.
Omission errors can occur for any of the following reasons:
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Environmental interference with the test: Ask the client “did you see those targets?” Perhaps there was a noise or a distraction in the office that caused the client to look away from the test just at the moment the target was displayed. It is best to observe the client taking the QIK test to see if they are tending to look at the test the entire time or whether they have a tendency to look around the room or away from the QIK display during the test.
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Problem with the QIK hardware. In some rare cases clinicians have reported button problems with the QIK test. The way to test the QIK buttons is to press the buttons when a test is not running. When pressing the QIK test buttons the test should beep 3 times with each button press. Try pressing the button in the middle of the button and all around the edges of the button. Repeat this test for both buttons. Press the button only about once a second. If you press the button too rapidly before it has stopped its 3 beep sequence, the next press will not make a noise, so don't get ahead of it. After following this procedure, if pressing the button does not yield the 3 beep sound consistently, then send the QIK test back for repair/replacement immediately.
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Vision problem. Ask the client about vision issues. In some cases large numbers of omission errors on the QIK have been the first sign that the opinion of a developmental optometrist is needed.
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Attentional problems – hopefully these will be resolved through neurofeedback.
