T.O.V.A.® User’s Manual
Test Of Variables of Attention Continuous Performance Test
The TOVA Company
222 Anthes Ave Ste 101
Langley, WA 98260 USA
| Phone: | 800.PAY.ATTN or 800.729.2886 or 562.594.7700 |
| Fax: | 800.452.6919 or 562.594.7770 |
| Email: | info@tovatest.com |
| Web: | http://www.tovatest.com/ |
Edition Number 9.1-12-g63538d5 () L17 B
T.O.V.A. release
© Copyright 2007- The TOVA Company, All Rights Reserved.
Test Of Variables of Attention (abbreviated T.O.V.A. ) is a registered trademark of The TOVA Company.
No part of this manual may be distributed without permission of The TOVA Company.
Orders of this manual should be directed to:
The TOVA Company
222 Anthes Ave Ste 101
Langley, WA 98260 USA
800.PAY.ATTN 800.729.2886 +1.562.594.7700
Fax 800.452.6919 +1.562.594.7770
Printed in the United States of America.
Important Information |
The Test of Variables of Attention (T.O.V.A.) provides healthcare professionals with objective measurements of attention and inhibitory control. The visual T.O.V.A. aids in the assessment of, and evaluation of treatment for, attention deficits, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The auditory T.O.V.A. aids in the assessment of attention deficits, including ADHD. T.O.V.A. results should only be interpreted by qualified professionals.
CAUTION: Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a qualified professional.
The T.O.V.A. microswitch and USB device should not be used in conjunction with an MRI.
The T.O.V.A. provides objective measures of attention and inhibitory control. The T.O.V.A. does not diagnose any disease or disorder or make a recommendation of treatment. T.O.V.A. performance should always be considered in the context of all available clinical information and should only be interpreted by a qualified professional.
WARNING: Repetitive flashing of display may cause eye strain, headaches, or seizures. Please seek medical help if you experience any eye strain or headache.
The T.O.V.A. microswitch is a Type B Applied Part, i.e., a part of the system meant to be handled by the subject. The T.O.V.A. USB device and associated cables are not applied parts, and are not meant to be handled by the subject.
The T.O.V.A. can only be connected via the USB connector: Only connect the USB input to equipment that is certified to UL 60950-1 and IEC 60950-1.
The T.O.V.A. microswitch should be cleaned in between subjects. See section 9 for directions.
The T.O.V.A. is designed to be stored, operated and transported in a standard indoor environment: a temperature of 10 to 40 C (50 to 104 F), 0 to 100% relative humidity, and an atmospheric pressure of 64.4 to 106.6 kPa.
T.O.V.A. results should be interpreted only by qualified professionals.
Do not interrupt the T.O.V.A. test while it’s being administered. Selecting ‘Esc’ will result in the test being interrupted.
Do not open the T.O.V.A. hardware enclosures; there are no user serviceable parts inside the T.O.V.A. hardware.
Do not unplug the T.O.V.A. hardware when in use (during a test). This will result in lost session data.
Always make sure that your PC is plugged into a power outlet during Session mode. A low battery during a test session may cause the test data to be lost.
Caution: If a new display or new PC is used, the display must be recalibrated prior to administration of the T.O.V.A. test.
The T.O.V.A. Precision Test Environment does not support the use of multiple monitors/screens.
The T.O.V.A. does not support network share databases. Storing data on a server or network share will most likely result in lost data. Please only use the T.O.V.A. with a local database.
We always recommend that you back up your T.O.V.A. database before installing or uninstalling the T.O.V.A. . Automatic local database backups are built into the T.O.V.A. application and enabled by default, but we recommend that you also regularly back up your database (and the rest of your PC) to a secure location.
Warning: The surface of the T.O.V.A. microswitch may become hot (41 C / 106 F) during use. Discontinue use if holding the switch becomes uncomfortable.
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for medical devices to IEC 60601-1-2. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a typical medical installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to other devices in the vicinity. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to other devices, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
The T.O.V.A. database may contain private or personal Protected Health Information (PHI). While the T.O.V.A. accommodates the need to protect PHI, the T.O.V.A. application does not secure or encrypt the database itself. Instead, you can secure access to the T.O.V.A. database and backup folders within your OS (Windows or macOS)—just be sure that all authorized users of the T.O.V.A. have full permissions on the system to the database folder and its subfolders.
We also expect users will follow information security best practices on the host PC, among which are these:
The T.O.V.A. uses SSL to secure any communication with our servers that might contain personal information, and no PHI is collected without your consent. Any information on our servers is securely maintained.
The Test of Variables of Attention (T.O.V.A.) is a Class I medical device registered with the Australian Government’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) under Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) Identifier 315322.
Emergo Australia
Level 20, Tower II
Darling Park
201 Sussex Street
Sydney, NSW 2000
Australia
The Test of Variables of Attention (T.O.V.A.) is licensed by Health Canada as a Class I medical device manufactured under Medical Device Establishment License (MDEL) Number 9655.
The Test of Variables of Attention (T.O.V.A.) is a Class I medical device manufactured in accordance with the European Union’s Medical Device Directive (MDD 93/42/EEC).
For vigilance inquiries, use EmergoVigilance@ul.com
The Test of Variables of Attention (T.O.V.A.) has been cleared for sale in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The TOVA Company is a medical device manufacturer that is certified under ISO 13485:2016 and the Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP). Please see http://www.tovatest.com/iso for our certificate.
The Test of Variables of Attention (T.O.V.A.) is an accurate and objective continuous performance test (CPT) that measures the key components of attention and inhibitory control. The T.O.V.A. is used by qualified healthcare professionals in the assessment of attention deficits, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in children and adults. In addition, the visual T.O.V.A. is used to evaluate treatment for attention deficits, including ADHD.
The T.O.V.A. is a culture- and language-free, sufficiently long computerized test that requires no left/right discrimination or sequencing. Responses to visual or auditory stimuli are recorded with a specially designed, highly accurate (±1 ms) microswitch. The T.O.V.A. calculates response time variability (consistency), response time (speed), commissions (impulsivity), and omissions (focus and vigilance). These calculations are then compared to a large age- and gender-matched normative sample (over 1,700 individuals for the visual test, and over 2,600 individuals for the auditory test), as well as to a sample population of individuals independently diagnosed with ADHD. These comparison results are used to create an immediately available, easy-to-read report.
The T.O.V.A. system includes:
Because the T.O.V.A. microswitch comes in direct contact with a patient, it should be cleaned after every use.
The T.O.V.A. USB device and all associated cabling do not require cleaning. If you wish to clean it, please follow these instructions.
Getting Started |
Welcome to the T.O.V.A. User’s Manual. Feel free to jump right in and install the T.O.V.A. by skipping to “Installing the T.O.V.A. ” (section 11.12), but we’ve included this section in case you’re not familiar with the T.O.V.A. . We’ll tell you a bit about the T.O.V.A. and answer some common questions about it.
This manual is the T.O.V.A. version User’s Manual. It is meant to help you with all things technological about the T.O.V.A. .
There are other manuals that may help you.
See the T.O.V.A. device description (section 8).
The T.O.V.A. is used by qualified professionals, such as psychologists, physicians (including psychiatrists, neurologists, pediatricians and family practitioners), physician assistants, researchers, pharmaceutical companies, licensed clinical counselors, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists.
For more information, please see our website at http://www.tovatest.com/.
It’s quite simple: the visual test flashes stimuli on the screen (or the auditory test beeps stimuli on speakers), and the subject taking the test responds as quickly and as accurately as they can with a small handheld microswitch. This kind of ‘stimulus and response’ test is called a continuous performance test (CPT), and the T.O.V.A. is one of many on the market—the best, we believe!
Both the auditory and visual tests are 21.6 minutes long. (A shorter 10.8-minute visual T.O.V.A. test is administered to subjects ages 4 to 5.5.) The visual test has two simple images that alternately flash on the screen, and the subject presses the button after the correct square. The auditory test has two tones, and the subject presses the button after the higher tone. Both tests are horribly, terribly, inhumanly boring. But this is a good thing because you just can’t fake it with the T.O.V.A. .
The T.O.V.A. takes the subject’s responses and compares them to a study with thousands of ‘normal’ people—that is, people who were screened for attention (and other disorders) and were deemed normal. This is called the T.O.V.A. norming study, and it allows us to figure out where the subject’s responses fall on the ‘bell curve’ of normal. It is critical that the number of people in a norming study is large, and the T.O.V.A. still has the largest norming study of any CPT. The T.O.V.A. also compares the subject’s responses to a study of people diagnosed with ADHD.
These comparisons are not diagnoses! Only a clinician can make a diagnosis. The T.O.V.A. simply aids the clinician with their assessment of attention deficits.
The T.O.V.A. measures attentional variables—that is, it measures how people respond to a long, boring test. There are over 250 peer-reviewed papers on the T.O.V.A. that show how these variables correspond to attention deficits, and how the T.O.V.A. can be used. See the T.O.V.A. website (http://www.tovatest.com/) for a list of papers published about or using the T.O.V.A. .
In particular, the T.O.V.A. measures these variables (listed in order of importance):
Because response times, and even more importantly, the variability of response times, are the core of any CPT, the T.O.V.A. was designed with very high timing accuracy. Although people respond to stimuli in hundreds of milliseconds, the consistency of response times can be only tens of milliseconds. And because that’s the most sensitive variable in a CPT, it’s crucial that the response timing on a CPT be precise—and reliable.
We like to say that the T.O.V.A. has ‘research-grade’ timing accuracy, because our timing is just that good. But what’s just as important is that the timing is reliable. And so we go out of our way to make sure the T.O.V.A. is a reliable test.
Unfortunately, modern operating systems like Windows, macOS, and most flavors of Linux don’t guarantee reliability when it comes to timing. In fact, they do the opposite: they guarantee that eventually they will introduce latencies and variable delays in timing. Modern operating systems have been designed from the ground up to be reasonably fast for users’ demands, but not to be reliably and consistently fast. Have you ever seen your computer hesitate just a split second before it does what you asked it to do? Happens all the time, right? That hesitation will make any CPT running on these operating systems unreliable.
We realize other people say you can still test in Windows or other modern operating systems, but they’ve never (to our knowledge) objectively measured their timing performance with an external timing validation system. We have. We’ve measured timing reliability under Windows (and Mac OS X), and it stinks.
So how do we get around this timing issue?
The T.O.V.A. has two ways of resolving this:
We charge per test because we care that you have the very latest in tools to help you improve people’s lives. This may sound like advertising, but we truly do believe it. Your clinical tools should be constantly improving as new research and new ideas comes down the pipeline, and the T.O.V.A. will do this.
So instead of charging you an arm and a leg for the T.O.V.A. and leaving you in the dust as it improves, we instead charge you per test and then give you new versions of the T.O.V.A. for free. Yes, for free. More norms? Free. Improved user interface? Free. New statistics? Free.
Note: There is a charge for the T.O.V.A. hardware–please contact T.O.V.A. customer service for details (section 29).
And we support you like no other testing company can: technical support is free. Whenever you have a question or problem with the T.O.V.A. , contact us and we’ll help you. We’re crazy about supporting our users, so really don’t hesitate to call us if you can’t figure out something about the T.O.V.A. .
And, even more importantly, interpretation support is free. This means we have staff whose job it is to help you interpret T.O.V.A. results. Wondering how to identify malingering? Do you need help understanding how comorbid disorders affect T.O.V.A. performance? Are you baffled by the results of your last subject? Call us! We’ll help you understand it.
So in summary, our per-test charge allows us to provide you with an excellent, constantly evolving test of attention with full customer service. We think that’s a pretty good deal.
The T.O.V.A. has its roots in a 1966 National Institute of Health-funded research project. The equipment that gave that CPT literally took up an entire wall. With the onset of the personal computer, it was ported to the Apple IIe (and called the VIRTEST), then the Macintosh, and finally to DOS and Windows PCs. The T.O.V.A. has over 40 years of ongoing research behind it.
The following items should be included in the kit:
We have a whole section about devoted to Using the T.O.V.A. (section 19).
Here’s where you can find answers to some other general questions:
See our Frequently Asked Questions, section 40.
Installing the T.O.V.A. |
In this part of this manual, we’ll help you install the T.O.V.A. hardware and software.
You will need to log in as an administrator to install the T.O.V.A. . If you own your computer, then you most likely have administrative access to your computer. If your computer is part of a large organization and you have an IT staff that installs programs for you, you will probably want to contact them to install the T.O.V.A. . You can run the T.O.V.A. as a normal or limited user, but it can only be installed by an administrator.
To use the T.O.V.A. software, you will need T.O.V.A. 9 hardware. You cannot administer the T.O.V.A. test with T.O.V.A. 7 or T.O.V.A. 8 hardware. Please contact T.O.V.A. Customer Service (section 29) to purchase a T.O.V.A. kit before installing the T.O.V.A. software.
Steps to Install the T.O.V.A.
Note: During or after install, your system’s firewall or antivirus software may alert you to changes we are making to your system. If we don’t make these changes, the T.O.V.A. may not function correctly. When asked, please choose ‘Allow’, ‘Unblock’, or whatever allows the installer to proceed.
Once you see the Welcome page (Figure 4), the installation has begun.
The install location is the /TOVA folder in the Applications directory of your main volume. Documentation is placed in the Docs folder therein. Do not change the install location or else automatic web updating will not work correctly. Click ‘Install’ to begin installation.
The T.O.V.A. Configuration wizard will walk you through the most important settings your Administrator should review:
You can always go back and change these options later, but changing Admin preferences may require running ‘T.O.V.A. Admin Settings’ (see section 27.1). See section 27 for more information on T.O.V.A. Preferences.
Once you have saved your configuration selections, you should install the T.O.V.A. hardware. Proceed to section 15.
The T.O.V.A. is software and hardware. The hardware includes:
No qualification is necessary to install the T.O.V.A. software and hardware. T.O.V.A. hardware components are not user-serviceable and instead should be returned to The TOVA Company for repair. Technical Support is available if you have questions (section 29).
Note: Do not plug the USB cable into a USB hub. USB hubs will cause intermittent communication problems between the T.O.V.A. software and the T.O.V.A. USB device . USB hubs are not supported.
The External A/V (EAV) hardware setup is the most convenient to use and works with nearly any modern computer. Because it requires an external VGA monitor and some additional connections, it works best for desktop computers, but it’s compatible with any modern Windows or Mac computer.
After you’ve connected the T.O.V.A. USB device to the computer as suggested above (section 15.1), add the following connections:
Now you should be set up to administer EAV sessions.
The above instructions detail the full External Audio/Video (EAV) hardware setup, but there are a few alternatives to consider:
Note: You CANNOT use an adapter cable to connect your T.O.V.A. USB device to your external monitor. The EAV hardware setup requires a VGA connection to a VGA monitor that natively supports a 1024x768 resolution.
For more information, consult the T.O.V.A. Professional manual.
Note: You can adjust the stimuli size in the T.O.V.A. Preferences (section 27.14).
If you’re installing the T.O.V.A. for the first time, you should see the first page of the T.O.V.A. Hardware Setup wizard that immediately follows the Configuration wizard. We recommend that you complete the Hardware Setup wizard to confirm that you’ve attached your hardware correctly. Please continue on to the section 16.
The Hardware Setup wizard starts automatically after you finish the Configuration wizard (section 14), and it helps you to test your T.O.V.A. hardware connections to make sure you’re set up correctly. The T.O.V.A. hardware must pass each test to go on to the next page. If you haven’t set up your hardware yet, please see section 15 first.
Note: Which pages you see will depend on which hardware setup you selected in the Configuration wizard.
When you see the first page of the Hardware Setup, it’s time to attach your T.O.V.A. hardware. Follow the “Installation Guide” included with your T.O.V.A. kit. When you have finished installing your hardware, click ‘Next’ to begin testing your hardware and connections. If you have questions about installing your hardware, see section 15.
The first test of the Hardware setup wizard tries to detect your T.O.V.A. USB device . If it reports “No T.O.V.A. devices found”, you may not have attached the device correctly. See section 31.1.3 to help you troubleshoot this problem, and click ‘Refresh’ to try detecting the device again.
When your T.O.V.A. USB device has been detected, click ‘Next’ to continue.
Once your device has been detected, we next ask you to test that your microswitch is correctly attached and working. Choose ‘Check microswitch’ and press the microswitch button ten times. Be sure to press the button exactly ten times: If the microswitch test persistently reports more or fewer presses than you give it, you should contact The TOVA Company to replace your microswitch immediately.
When your microswitch test passes, click ‘Next’ to continue.
Note: If you chose the EAV hardware setup, you should skip to the next section (section 16.5).
This is the last step of the PTE Hardware Setup wizard. By now you have your T.O.V.A. USB device and microswitch attached correctly. Next, you should test the PTE, where you will be administering tests to your subjects.
Once you’ve tested the PTE, you have finished verifying your PTE Hardware Setup. Congratulations! You’ve finished installing the T.O.V.A. ! We strongly recommend that you go ahead and read through ‘Using the T.O.V.A. ’ (section 19).
Note: If you chose the PTE Hardware setup, you will not see this page of the wizard nor those following.
There are a few more attachments to verify for the EAV Hardware setup. Click ‘Check EAV Video’ and—if your video attachments to your computer, T.O.V.A. USB device , and monitor are correct—the device will send a T.O.V.A. image to your screen for a few seconds.
If you do not see the images (the T.O.V.A. logo, visual test stimuli), make sure that ’video out’ is connected to your display and ’video in’ is connected to your computer’s VGA port: It’s easy to reverse them.
When your video test passes, click ‘Next’ to continue.
Next, we want to verify that your audio cables are attached correctly to your computer, your T.O.V.A. USB device , and your speakers, and that the volume is appropriate to your system.
Choose ‘Play EAV test audio’ to play a series of sounds to verify the connection between your T.O.V.A. USB device and speakers. Choose ‘Check PC sound’ to test your system volume and the entire audio connection. For more information on adjusting and troubleshooting audio problems, see section 31.7.
When you have verified that your audio is working and the volume is properly adjusted, click ‘Next’ to continue.
Once you’ve reached this page, you have verified that your hardware is installed correctly for EAV testing. Before you finish, though, click ’Calibrate display’. Successful display calibration is required before you can administer a Visual T.O.V.A. test. See section 20.5.1 for more information.
Congratulations! You’ve finished installing the T.O.V.A. ! We strongly recommend that you go ahead and read the quick and helpful ’Using the T.O.V.A. ’ guide, section 19.
There may be times when you’ll want to uninstall the T.O.V.A. . We’ve done our best to make that process simple and straight-forward.
WARNING! We always recommend that you back up your database before installing or uninstalling the T.O.V.A. . You can never be too careful!
Click ‘Next’ when you have selected your options.
There may be times when you’ll want to uninstall the T.O.V.A. . We’ve done our best to make that process simple and straight-forward.
WARNING! We always recommend that you backup your database before installing or uninstalling the T.O.V.A. . You can never be too careful!
You can remove the T.O.V.A. application and manuals by dragging the folder /Applications/TOVA to the Trash. You may need to type your password or administrator password to delete this folder. This will leave behind:
We have also included a command script on the T.O.V.A. flash drive to remove all traces of the T.O.V.A. from your system. You will find it in TOVATEST/utilities/mac_uninstall.command. Double-click on this script in the Finder to run it. Type “uninstall” to confirm, and your password to authenticate when indicated. If you want even the T.O.V.A. database removed, type “delete” when asked, but please note that this will remove all your T.O.V.A. test data.
To uninstall the T.O.V.A. hardware, simply do the opposite of the instructions above in Installing the T.O.V.A. Hardware (section 15).
If you have the EAV (External A/V ) hardware setup, you may disconnect those connections first:
Once any EAV connections are removed, disconnect the rest of the hardware:
This will terminate operation of the T.O.V.A. USB device .
Using the T.O.V.A. |
In this part of this manual, we’ll show you the parts of the T.O.V.A. you’ll use on a regular basis.
In this section of the manual, we’ll give you practical, basic instruction in how to administer the T.O.V.A. test using the T.O.V.A. .
There’s a simple series of steps you’ll need to do in order to administer the T.O.V.A. test:
Preparing the subject is crucial, because it assures that the test is administered properly and replicates the same conditions as the T.O.V.A. norms. This includes when, where, and how the test should be administered.
You may also want to enter the subject and session information before the subject arrives. Next, we’ll tell you how to do that.
Administering a T.O.V.A. test starts at the main window. Here you may select a subject or create a new subject.
Creating a new subject is easy.
Notice first the red labels on Birthdate and Gender (Figure 22). These are the only required fields for creating a new subject. While entering a subject name is usually helpful, some users may prefer to leave out the subjects’ names altogether to better protect personal health information.
Note: Entering dates in the T.O.V.A. is easy, but the format depends on the preferences that are set in your operating system (e.g., Windows). For instance, if you’re in the United States, dates are most likely in the format ‘mm/dd/yyyy’, but in Europe they’re probably ‘dd/mm/yyyy’. When entering the birth date, please check the age to make sure you’ve entered it right. A shorter 10.8-minute test is administered to subjects under six, so an incorrect date of birth can result in the wrong test format.
Notice also our custom field, ‘Favorite color’. You will not see this field, of course, but you may see other custom fields that your organization has created. For more information on Custom Subject and Session fields, see section 27.3.
That’s it! You’ve created a new subject in the T.O.V.A. .
If you’ve already created the subject, the next step is to find and select the subject you want to test. Near the top of the main window (Figure 21) is a search bar. Here you can search for the subject you want to test by name, subject number, birthdate, test date, or any custom fields you’ve created. This will be an important tool once you’ve administered a few dozen tests.
For more search techniques, see section 38.2. Another way to find your subject quickly is by clicking on the column headers. Click once to sort the table on that field and again to reverse the sort order.
Once you’ve found the subject you want to test, highlight the subject and click ‘New Session’.
Now that we’ve selected a subject and started a new session, we can enter a little information about this test session and launch the session. You should choose now between administering a visual or auditory test and make sure that the age and test date is correct.
Note: It is critical that the subject’s gender and age is correct. Any mistake here will invalidate the accuracy of the T.O.V.A. report, since comparison to the T.O.V.A. norming study must be done for the proper gender and age group.
Click ‘Instructions language’ to change the test instruction language for the session you’re about to give then click ‘Close’, or choose ‘Save as default’ to make that language the new default. See section 36 for more information on the T.O.V.A. test instructions.
Adding treatments, including medications and dosages, will aid in interpreting the test. In addition, you can enter the name of the tester, fill in any custom fields, or add comments, but none of these are required before administering a T.O.V.A. test session. And you can always add or modify session information after the session has been administered.
At the bottom of this window, under ‘Session Launch’, you will see a brief description of how the session will be launched. The settings here will always default to what the administrator has specified in the Preferences (section 27.13), but if you want to change these settings for this session, click on the ‘Options’ button.
Let’s say you decide you want to prepare your system to launch the PTE session, but you want to reboot ‘later’ after you finish writing an email. Any change you want to make from the way the T.O.V.A. usually launches a session, you can make here.
Once you’ve configured the session launch options how you want them for this session, click ‘Close’. If you’d like to save these as your new default launch options, choose ‘Save as defaults’ instead. For more information on your launch options, see section 27.13
Let’s look briefly at the two testing environments.
The T.O.V.A. EAV session does NOT require rebooting your system. Instead of relying on your system’s clock, video, etc., the T.O.V.A. hardware functions as a separate computer with its own timing.
Because of this, an EAV session DOES requires an external VGA monitor (and speakers, for the auditory test) plugged into the T.O.V.A. USB device. See section 33 for more information.
Note: Please make sure to disable, at least temporarily, any Sleep/Standby/Hibernate power settings for your system. Because External A/V testing does not use the keyboard or mouse, some computers will shut down due to inactivity. See section 37.1 for more information.
The T.O.V.A. PTE is a real-time operating system designed exclusively to administer the T.O.V.A. test. There are many options available for launching the PTE; those available will vary based on your computer and its configuration. Using the PTE requires rebooting your system, so be sure to save your work in other applications before launching the PTE.
For more information on the Precision Test Environment, see section 34. For information on PTE launch options, see section 27.13.
Once you’ve entered all the test session information and set up the launch as you want it, click ‘Launch’ to start the T.O.V.A. test session. As you can see from the screenshots above, both testing environments have the same basic steps to administer a T.O.V.A. test.
Note: Always make sure that your computer is plugged into a power outlet during Session mode. A low battery during a test session may cause the test data to be lost.
Note: If you’re administering an auditory test, you will skip this step and go right to test instructions, section 36.
Accurate, precise timing is critical to testing, and there are more different kinds of monitors than ever, so our T.O.V.A. microswitch has a screen calibration sensor.
With this sensor and a brief 10-to-30-second calibration, we can conform the timing of the T.O.V.A. test to your display. There will be some monitors that are too unpredictable for the T.O.V.A. to work with. By performing this calibration step, we can recognize and alert you if your monitor’s timing will be out of range.
Calibration will take 10-30 seconds. Once we’ve calibrated the T.O.V.A. to your monitor, the T.O.V.A. will store that data, so you only have to calibrate once for EAV testing and once for PTE testing (See section 33 for more on the differences). Note: If you install a new monitor or video card, it’s important that you recalibrate the T.O.V.A. to that new hardware.
Note: See section 31.4 for more information if you encounter problems during calibration.
The next step is giving the subject instructions on how to take the T.O.V.A. test. Click the ‘Test Instructions’ button to start the multimedia test instructions. See section 36 for more information on test instruction languages, controls, and options.
After receiving the test instructions, the subject should take a two-minute practice test. When you click ‘Practice Test’, the subject will receive a few final instructions; then the subject will be prompted to click the microswitch to begin the practice test.
When the practice test is complete, the T.O.V.A. automatically displays the results. If there were a lot of Omissions or Commissions (Figure 28), perhaps the subject needs further explanation. The subject can re-take the practice test if necessary.
When you click ‘T.O.V.A. Test’, the final instructions before the T.O.V.A. test will be given, and the subject will be prompted to click the microswitch to begin the T.O.V.A. test.
If the T.O.V.A. test is interrupted (by pressing ‘Esc’ or if there is a hardware failure), a message will appear asking the user to ‘Continue’, ‘Start over’, or ‘Abort’ the T.O.V.A. test. For the best results, we recommend that you ‘Start over’ on any interrupted test. Click ‘Abort’ to stop the test before it is finished—you will be prompted to either save the unfinished test’s data or erase it. Click ‘Continue’ to resume the test where the subject left off. Any interruptions will be noted in the test data and on the report.
Once the T.O.V.A. test is completed, a summary of the finished test will appear. If you are using the PTE, this will appear after you boot back to your OS. Make sure to examine the summary before saving the data. If there are very few button presses, perhaps the subject did not understand the test instructions. If not all the stimuli were shown, the test may have been aborted before it was complete. In either case, it may not be worth using a test credit to save the T.O.V.A. data, and you may choose to ‘Erase data’.
If the summary information looks fine, choose ‘Save test results’ to retrieve the T.O.V.A. test results and store them in the T.O.V.A. database. If you’re not sure whose test this is, you can view the subject information by clicking ‘More information’.
Note: You must use a test credit to save the T.O.V.A. test data. If you ‘Continue without saving’, the T.O.V.A. test results will remain on the device, but they will be lost the next time a T.O.V.A. test is administered. For more information about test credits, see section 22.
Next, you have option to view a report on the test data immediately. Choose ‘View report’ to see a report now or ‘Cancel’ if you’d prefer to see the report later. The report can be viewed afterward at any time. You can also choose ‘Add information’ to add/edit session information before you view the report.
For more information on the T.O.V.A. report, see section 21.
Congratulations! You’ve just administered a T.O.V.A. test!
The T.O.V.A. test data is now stored in your database along with the subject information. So what do you do now?
When you are finished using the T.O.V.A. for the day, please exit the T.O.V.A. application by clicking ‘Quit’ in the main T.O.V.A. window. There is no operation to “power down” the T.O.V.A. USB device and no need to disconnect the T.O.V.A. hardware when not using it, so we recommend that you keep the T.O.V.A. USB device attached. If it’s convenient, you may uninstall the T.O.V.A. hardware when you are not using the T.O.V.A. application (see section 19), but we recommend that you save your test data first.
Note: T.O.V.A. results should be interpreted only by qualified professionals.
Viewing a report is easy. In the main window, highlight the session you want to report on and choose ‘View’.
Note: If you want to view a comparison report, highlight more than one session using Shift-click or Ctrl-click. The ‘View’ button becomes a ‘Compare’ button, and when you choose it, you will see a graph comparing the highlighted sessions. For more information on the comparison report, see section 21.2.
While you’re viewing a report, you have other options:
On the left of the report window is a list of the pages of the report. Highlight a page to view it in the right pane.
Choose ‘Customize’ from the Report window, and you’ll find several ways to customize the T.O.V.A. report:
Note: By default, new custom fields do not appear in the T.O.V.A. report until they are selected, and even then, the field will only appear if it has a value. In other words, if you set no value for Sarah’s hair length, that session’s report will not display “Hair length: ”, it will just not appear.
Once you’ve made your changes, choose ‘Apply’, or choose ‘Set as default’ to apply your changes to this and all future reports. Close the window to abandon your selections.
When you select more than one session in the main window, the ‘View’ button becomes a ‘Compare’ button. Click it to bring up a report with graphs comparing statistics of the selected sessions.
You can highlight multiple sessions using ‘Ctrl’-click (Mac users, ‘Command’-click) to highlight each additional session, or ‘Shift’-click to highlight a range of sessions.
There are two pages:
We try to support all printers, but if you encounter problems printing the T.O.V.A. report, there is a workaround:
We hope that this works for you. However, please do send us a Tech Support request (section 29) to let us know about the problem, so we can correct this for you and other users.
After that, you can automate this workaround:
From then on, printing a report will save a temporary file, open your default PDF viewer, and print the report using your default printer/settings.
In order to administer a T.O.V.A. test and thus generate a T.O.V.A. report, you must have one or more test credits available on your T.O.V.A. USB device . A test credit is used when a test session is saved from the T.O.V.A. USB device .
The T.O.V.A. USB device holds only one test’s data, and the test data can only be saved by using a test credit. If you run out of credits, you cannot continue administering tests until you order more. A new T.O.V.A. USB device will contain five test credits, and, therefore, you can administer five tests before you need to order more credits, though you can order more at any time.
Ordering more test credits is easy. How you order will likely depend on if your T.O.V.A. system can connect to the internet.
With an internet connection, ordering credits is easy:
Once the transaction is complete, your organization will be billed for your order as previously authorized. If you have questions about billing or pricing, contact T.O.V.A. customer service (see section 29 for details.)
In the T.O.V.A. , credit ordering is a simple exchange of codes. This exchange is performed automatically if your T.O.V.A. system is connected to the internet. If it is not, you can exchange codes with the T.O.V.A. office by means of email or phone.
If your T.O.V.A. system cannot connect to the internet, you will see the Offline Ordering window (Figure 35). At the top, a frame contains ‘Your information’; this is the information that you will send to The TOVA Company when you are ordering credits (or receiving a service order).
As noted, you can contact The TOVA Company in a variety of ways with your ordering code(s), and we will respond with your authorization code(s). Once you’ve entered the authorization codes successfully, choose ‘OK’.
Sometimes you may order credits over the phone or email. If that credit order is initiated by The TOVA Company instead of your T.O.V.A. system, we call that a service order. In that scenario, we will send you a service order authorization code, and you will enter it on this same window. When you click ’OK’, the code will process, and a new ordering code will appear under ‘Your information’. It’s important that you send that information back to us, via any of those same means (phone, email, website). That will complete the transaction on the server, so that you will still be able to order credits in the future.
Once the transaction is complete, your organization will then be billed for your order. If you have questions about billing or pricing, contact T.O.V.A. customer service (see section 29 for details.)
Some users do not order credits directly through the application in the standard way. Instead, they contact us, and we generate a service order.
In order to receive credits from a service order, you must either have internet access to your T.O.V.A. computer or receive a service code from us. In the latest version, the T.O.V.A. software will synchronize orders between the T.O.V.A. USB device and the T.O.V.A. server automatically. If that fails, you can attempt to sync manually:
If your system is connected to the internet, your device will communicate with our servers, completing the order, and a message should appear with your new total credits available. If your computer is not connected to the internet, the Offline Ordering window (section 22.2) will instead appear, where you can manually enter the service code(s) received from us. If there is any ordering code to be sent back, it will appear here under ‘Your information’. You should send that ordering code back to us, via any of the means listed (phone, email, website). This will complete the order on the T.O.V.A. credit servers, synchronizing it with your T.O.V.A. USB device .
For more information, contact T.O.V.A. customer service (see section 29.)
If you encounter a problem with the ordering system, tech support may send you to this Advanced window. This displays your device’s information, including all of your device’s ordering keys. That information can be sent to us via email from a separate online computer or, if necessary, read out over the phone.
If you do encounter a problem with ordering, there’s no need to panic. This window has all the information from your device that T.O.V.A. technical support should need to clear up the situation.
The T.O.V.A. maintains all of your subjects’ test session data in a database, and it’s critical that you back up your T.O.V.A. data.
This is the simplest way to back up all of your data.
The T.O.V.A. will begin exporting all the sessions in your database to a T.O.V.A. file at the chosen location. To restore from backup, simply import the .tova file as you would any other T.O.V.A. file (see section 24 for more information).
Note: If you are using a “Separate" database configuration–separate databases for each user on the computer–you will need to back up each user’s database separately.
The T.O.V.A. also has an automatic database backup feature. By default, it backs up your database every seven days. See section 27.5 for details.
The T.O.V.A. can automatically and securely back up your database to The TOVA Company’s servers. This is independent of the automatic local backups, and it can upload test sessions as soon as they are saved or modified. We still recommend you employ other backup solutions as well. See section 27.5 for options.
You can also use your computer’s own backup software to back up the database folder. Here’s how to find it:
The path listed here (under the selected database type) is where your database is stored. You will want to back up the entire contents of this path.
Note: If your database type is ‘Separate’, each user on this system will have their own database. Therefore, you will need to back up each of these databases to secure your data.
This does not back up the T.O.V.A. application itself. If your hard drive fails and you have to rebuild your computer, simply re-install the T.O.V.A. software and restore the database to the selected database folder.
If you have specific questions about backing up your T.O.V.A. data, T.O.V.A. technical support (section 29) is happy to help! Please call us before you lose your data.
The T.O.V.A. can import T.O.V.A. 7 data files, as well as T.O.V.A. files exported from other databases (See Exporting, section 25) and T.O.V.A. backup files. Here’s how you do it:
The Import interface handles the potentially complex process of importing T.O.V.A. 7 files. At the bottom of the window is the ‘Start/Pause’ button, which starts or pauses the import, and the ‘Cancel/Close’ button, which aborts an import in progress and closes the Import window when importing is complete.
The window is divided up into four tabs. We’ll discuss each of these now.
This is the first tab (Figure 37), where you will see the list of all the files waiting to be imported. Click ‘Add’ to browse and select more files to import and ‘Remove’ if you decide you don’t want to import certain files after all. As files are imported, they are removed from this list, and the progress bar at the top will show you how far along the import process is, as well as the status. You can also click ‘Advanced’ to specify values for custom fields.
Note: If you click ‘Pause’, the import will continue until the current file is finished processing.
Here is where you can specify values for custom subject/session fields you may have created. Let’s say, for instance, that your organization has three offices: Northwest, Southeast, and Central. It’s important to you that you track which tests were administered where, so you created a custom session field named ‘Office’. Unfortunately, you have lots of T.O.V.A. 7 data for each of these offices. In this case, you select all the T.O.V.A. 7 files from the Northwest office and add them to your import list. Then you click on ‘Advanced’, add the ‘Office’ field, and specify a value of ‘Northwest’. Now you start the import, and all of the tests you import will have that ‘Office’ field set to ‘Northwest’. Once that import is done, remove the custom field value, add a new value ‘Office=’Southeast’, click ‘Close’ and import the Southeast batch of files. Once your files have all been imported, you’ll be able to sort the main window by the ‘Office’ field to easily find the subjects and sessions you’re looking for.
For more information on custom subject and session fields, see section 27.3.
The T.O.V.A. 7 used interpretation credits, so that after you finished a test you would need to “interpret” (“analyze” or “score” in older versions) the data to see the report or even the raw data. T.O.V.A. 7 files that were never interpreted contain “uncredited” data.
The Resolve Uncredited Files tab lists all these and gives you the chance to either credit the tests and import them or reject them for import.
Note: Importing an uncredited file will use a T.O.V.A. test credit. Unless you use a test credit, you cannot import the file.
Note: Crediting a T.O.V.A. 7 file for import will add the test data to the T.O.V.A. database, but it will not modify the original, uninterpreted data file. The original T.O.V.A. 7 data file will remain uninterpreted. If you then gave that same T.O.V.A. 7 file to a colleague, they would need to use another test credit to import it there.
In that scenario, you should credit and import the T.O.V.A. 7 data file, then export the session as a T.O.V.A. file. T.O.V.A. files always contain credited data. For more information about Exporting, see section 25.
The T.O.V.A. groups all sessions by the subject to whom they were administered. When a T.O.V.A. file is imported, we will check to see if that subject already exists in the database. Sometimes we’ll find the subject and match it automatically, but sometimes the information almost, but not quite, matches up. When the import comes to one of these, it will be added to the Resolve Duplicate Subjects tab, and the tab label displays the number of potentially-matched imports.
In the example shown in Figure 38, we see that the last name, birthdate, and subject number are identical, but the first name is different. Maybe there was a typo entering this subject’s name. Maybe you have a subject that sometimes goes by ‘John’ and sometimes by ‘Johnny’ or ‘Jack’.
This tab gives you the opportunity to decide if a subject should be matched, whether the imported subject information should replace the information in the database, or if the imported subject is a different subject entirely.
The Errors and Warnings tab gives details on any problems that may have been encountered during import. The ‘Errors’ list tells the reason for any files that have failed to import. The ‘Warnings’ list shows where there may have been problems importing a file, but they were not critical, and the T.O.V.A. was still able to import it. Any warnings will be added to that session’s Import Log in the database.
Use ‘Copy Messages’ to copy the information to your clipboard or ‘Send to tech support’ for help with specific problems.
The T.O.V.A. stores your subjects and test data in a database, but if you need to send data to colleagues or technical support, your T.O.V.A. test sessions can be exported.
Note: You cannot export subjects that don’t have any assigned sessions.
The process is simple:
Your T.O.V.A. data has now been exported to a file.
Note: If you select a lot of sessions, this could take a while, and the T.O.V.A. file could become large. By default, though, exports are ZIP-compressed.
Note: Exporting sessions does not remove them from the database.
Let’s briefly look over what options we have for exporting T.O.V.A. data.
Note: You cannot import PDF, HTML, or CSV files back into the T.O.V.A. . Only the T.O.V.A. file export can be imported.
For more information on Custom Subject/Session Fields, see section 27.3.
For more information on protecting personal health information, see section 26.
The T.O.V.A. can export sessions into an HTML format. This exports a .html file as well as several other linked files to the selected folder on your computer.
The .html file will open in your browser (e.g. Chrome, Firefox, etc.) by default. You can then highlight sections of the report with your mouse (including tables and graphs), copy the content (usually with Ctrl+‘C’), then paste it into Microsoft Word, your email client, or some other program (usually with Ctrl+‘V’). Browsers and other applications vary, but trial-and-error will show you what works best. We welcome your feedback (section 29) on how we can improve this feature.
If a colleague sends you a T.O.V.A. file, you can double-click on the file to open it in the T.O.V.A. .
When you do, you will be prompted to view reports of the sessions contained in the file and/or import them into your T.O.V.A. database. The T.O.V.A. will only view the first 10 sessions in a file. To view more reports than that, import the sessions first.
The United States Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has had far-reaching consequences, as we’re certain you know. We’ve designed some features to help you fit the T.O.V.A. into your HIPAA-compliance procedures.
The T.O.V.A. has only limited built-in security. Instead, the T.O.V.A. assumes that your organization has standard physical and computer security measures in place that meet HIPAA requirements.
If you need more information, please contact T.O.V.A. technical support (section 29).
The TOVA Company wants your T.O.V.A. data to be secure and private. Organizations covered by United States HIPAA regulations should have a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with any company that might be exposed to their patients’ Protected Health Information (PHI). Because The TOVA Company may encounter PHI in the course of assisting you with support, backups, etc., we provide a Business Associate Agreement.
You do not have to accept this agreement. You can send us a different agreement which we can review and accept or decline, or you can decline any BAA with The TOVA Company altogether. If you do not accept an agreement, several features of the T.O.V.A. software will be limited or disabled:
The T.O.V.A. software will provide you prompts to accept the T.O.V.A. BAA, but you must have Administrator access to your computer in order to accept or decline the agreement. The BAA should only be accepted by someone who has the authority to do so on behalf of your organization.
If your organization is not covered by United States laws, you can choose to either enable or disable these features. Please check your local privacy regulations and choose accordingly. If The TOVA Company is required to adhere to specific privacy laws in order to access personally identifiable data, please forward the appropriate agreement/contract to The TOVA Company for The TOVA Company’s consideration.
The Preferences window is where all the T.O.V.A. settings are managed. Choose the category you are looking for on the left and the settings for that category will be displayed. Choose ‘Save’ when you’ve finished making your changes.
Some T.O.V.A. settings require Admin privileges to change. Even if your login is an Administrator on the system, the T.O.V.A. application may run without Admin privileges (this is the default behavior in Windows).
These restricted preferences can only be modified from ‘T.O.V.A. Admin Settings’ (section 37.5).
Note: Some preferences that can be modified in the T.O.V.A. application are not accessible in T.O.V.A. Admin settings.
All T.O.V.A. System preferences (as opposed to Admin preferences) should be fully accessible to all T.O.V.A. users. If the T.O.V.A. is unable to write to files in the shared TOVA folder, you may be prompted to let the T.O.V.A. application fix the problem.
If you encounter this error (Figure 41) and you have Administrator access to your Windows PC, click ‘OK’ and grant the T.O.V.A. access to make changes to your computer.
Mac users: This built-in function is currently only available for Windows. If the T.O.V.A. reports “Your system preferences couldn’t be saved.”, there’s a script on your T.O.V.A. flash drive that can correct the problem:
Please contact T.O.V.A. technical support if you continue to have permissions issues (section 29).
The T.O.V.A. allows you to add your own fields to the T.O.V.A. database and display the information on reports and the main window. This can be of particular use to researchers.
In the Preferences window, you can ‘Add’ new custom fields, select and ‘Edit’ them, or ‘Remove’ fields you no longer want. Custom fields can be flagged as containing Protected Health Information, in which case they will be removed or hidden along with Subject Name when appropriate (see section 26 for more information on PHI).
There are two kinds of custom fields: subject and session. Subject fields follow the subject through all of their sessions, whereas session fields apply to a specific T.O.V.A. test session. Let’s say you’re doing a study of how “Hair length" affects attention and impulsivity. While length of hair applies to a subject, it could easily vary between sessions. The first time you test Tina Anderson, she may have long, flowing hair, but by the time you test her again, she may have cut it short. Therefore, you should add “Hair length" as a session field, not a subject field. Conversely, “Eye color" should be a subject field as it is unlikely to change over the course of one’s life.
By default, custom fields will not appear on the main window or report. To add them to the main window, see Subject/Session Table fields, section 27.8. To add them to the report, see Customizing the Report, section 21.1.
Note: Some of these settings are Admin preferences (section 27.1).
The T.O.V.A. stores all of your T.O.V.A. test sessions in a database. There are two database configurations you can choose from:
See section 37.6 for more information on changing your database path.
Note: These are mostly Admin preferences (see section 27.1).
We have always encouraged users to back up their T.O.V.A. database themselves (and continue to do so), but now you have new backup options:
This feature requires an internet connection, of course. Because this data may contain Protected Health Information (PHI), all data is encrypted and transmitted using the latest security protocols. To recover backups uploaded to the T.O.V.A. server, just send us a Technical support request (section 29).
You can also click ‘Back up database to the TOVA server now’, and a full backup of your entire database will be uploaded to The TOVA Company server.
A field is designated as a ‘legacy field’ if it is no longer being added or edited for new or existing subjects or sessions, but it is kept around for historical purposes. For instance, ‘Height’ and ‘Weight’ were fields in the T.O.V.A. 7, but are not used in the T.O.V.A. . When you import T.O.V.A. 7 files, any height and weight data will be imported as well, but you cannot edit these fields.
If you decide you want to be able to add or edit Height or Weight in the T.O.V.A. , you should de-select these as Legacy fields. Conversely, if your colleague shares a T.O.V.A. file with you that contains a ‘Hair length’ field, you may wish to designate that a legacy field, so that it will not appear as a field the next time you start a new session.
Logging is a very useful tech support tool for the T.O.V.A. . By default, the log will record in a file all error messages you may encounter in the T.O.V.A. . By adjusting the settings, you can record more or less information, or none at all, if you choose.
You can specify what information should be logged (by importance/severity), where your T.O.V.A. log file will be stored, and how logging will be performed. Generally, T.O.V.A. users will not want or need to modify these settings from their defaults unless asked to do so by T.O.V.A. technical support.
The T.O.V.A. log, as well as other relevant system information, can be sent to T.O.V.A. technical support through our support request feature (section 29). The TOVA Company will not collect any information from your system without your consent.
With the Subject and Session Table preferences you can select which fields will or will not appear on the main window Subject and Session tables. The Subject table can display any or all of the default Subject fields, as well as any custom Subject fields. The Session table, likewise, can contain all of the default and custom Session fields, as well as all the Subject fields. Select the fields you want to see when browsing subjects and sessions and keep unnecessary information from cluttering your interface.
Note: Even if a private field is added, it will not appear if PHI is hidden (see section 27.11).
Note: Some of these settings are Admin preferences. You may need to run ‘T.O.V.A. Admin Settings’ (see section 27.1) to modify them.
This is our grab bag of system preferences that didn’t belong elsewhere. You would do best to ignore this section until and unless you actually need it.
Note: By default, ‘Subject number’ is considered a “legacy field”. It will not be available for editing until you deselect it under Legacy fields (section 27.6).
Note: This is an Admin preference (see section 27.1).
If there are users on your system whom you don’t want accessing the T.O.V.A. , here you can set a password for the app. This is a system-wide password and, of course, may only be set or removed by an administrator.
Note: This password only controls access to the T.O.V.A. application. Securing your T.O.V.A. data is a function of your operation system, through user-access levels and file/directory permissions, and while the T.O.V.A. accommodates this, the T.O.V.A. software does not itself encrypt or restrict your data.
Note: Some of these settings are Admin preferences (section 27.1).
If you are using the main window (where you browse subject information) in view of your subjects, you may want to hide Protected Health Information from view. Choosing ‘Hide Protected Health Information’ will leave Subject Name and other protected fields off of the main window, the session screen, and all reports, and never write it to the T.O.V.A. USB device .
You also have an option here to not ‘Display subjects and sessions on startup and blank search’. Deselecting this option means that until you enter search criteria, the main window will display no subjects or sessions, instead of every subject and session, which is the default behavior. In addition to not revealing PHI, this makes starting up the T.O.V.A. faster, especially if you have a lot of subjects in your database.
Finally, this panel notes whether you’ve accepted the T.O.V.A. Business Associate Agreement (BAA) and provides an option to review and accept or decline it. Note: Accepting or declining the Business Associate Agreement requires you to have Administrator access to your computer.
See section 26 for more information on protecting personal health information.
The settings here simply mirror those available in the Customize Report window (section 21.1).
Your session launch options determine which session type will be launched and how. You can modify these session launch options in the Preferences window (section 27) or for a single session by clicking ‘Options’ in the ‘New Test Session’ window (see section 20.4.1);
You will always launch a T.O.V.A. session the same way, by creating a new session and clicking the ‘Launch’ button. The first option here is to choose what type of session you will launch.
If this is an EAV test session, launching a session will immediately bring up the EAV session screen. Launching a PTE session, on the other hand, requires rebooting your computer.
If you choose to test with the PTE, there are several mechanisms for doing it. The available options will vary, based on your computer and its configuration.
It’s best to try the default options first. See section 34.1 for information and instructions on testing the PTE.
To launch a PTE session, you will always need to reboot your system. This will happen automatically when you click ‘Launch’. But if you choose to reboot ‘later’, the T.O.V.A. will exit but not reboot, so you can reboot your system yourself later.
Alternatively, if you are trying to boot to a T.O.V.A. flash drive on a Windows 8 or 10 computer, choose ‘Boot Options Menu’. This will take you to a special Windows menu; choose ‘Use a device’ and trigger the T.O.V.A. flash drive to boot.
If that option doesn’t work, you might choose to reboot the computer “yourself after the system shuts down". This will power down your computer instead of rebooting it, so that you can power it on and press a special key to trigger the boot device menu. Consult T.O.V.A. technical support (section 29) for more information.
The T.O.V.A. will check and update T.O.V.A. boot media when you launch a PTE test session. If directed by tech support, choose this option to bypass those functions.
These are the settings the T.O.V.A. will use to size the stimuli for the visual test, as well as simple volume adjustments for the auditory stimuli. The visual T.O.V.A. ’s stimuli are two easily discriminated geometric figures centered on the computer screen (Figure 48).
The visual T.O.V.A. was normed using stimuli under the following conditions:
These are the recommended conditions; however, monitor size, type (standard or widescreen), resolution, and distance from the subject’s eyes may vary. Target size is important for the following reasons:
Most computer configurations are well within these parameters. However, some laptops, LCD monitors, or other widescreen displays may not have the capability to “expand” the T.O.V.A. ’s smaller VGA testing screen resolution to an appropriate size. This can result in a “miniature screen” in the middle of a larger monitor, and the stimuli are subsequently very small on the screen. To address situations such as this, the T.O.V.A. software has these scale adjustment settings.
It is recommended that you closely approximate the three-inches-diagonal measurement. If the adjustments here are not sufficient to display the stimuli properly, we recommend that a different monitor be used for T.O.V.A. testing.
Stimuli for the auditory test are two easily discriminated audible tones: the target is G above middle C, and the nontarget is middle C, played though external speakers placed on either side of the display. Since the T.O.V.A. should always be administered in a quiet location, free from distraction (it is a test of attention), the volume need only be adjusted to a comfortable level.
The very first setting on this panel we will mention last. ‘Auditory calibration’ is used to adjust test timing to the slight delay (about 3.5 ms) that occurs when using USB speakers. If you are directed by technical support to use USB speakers, we will give you the appropriate value to be entered here. If you are not using USB speakers, this value should be left alone.
Here is where you can change the default settings for the T.O.V.A. multimedia test instructions (see section 36 for more information).
If you just need to change these settings temporarily for the session you’re about to give, click ‘Instructions language’ from the New Test Session window (section 20.4).
Note: Some of these settings are Admin preferences (section 27.1).
All T.O.V.A. customers are entitled to free software upgrades, and we can send you updates automatically when we fix bugs or add new features.
Note: While you may or may not elect to download T.O.V.A. updates automatically, we never install an update without asking permission.
When you install or update the T.O.V.A. software, we like to collect information about your hardware and configuration. This helps us understand how our customers use the T.O.V.A. software and provide tech support if you encounter a problem. Here, you can opt not to send this information.
Note: Some of these settings are Admin preferences (section 27.1).
Note: These settings only appear on Windows systems.
Most Windows systems that test with the PTE (section 32) use the “Automatic" method, so they don’t require a boot CD or flash drive for testing. This employs the T.O.V.A. PTE Activation service (section 38.7) to boot the PTE.
Here you can disable the T.O.V.A. service. This may cause the T.O.V.A. to regularly prompt you for permissions, so please see section 38.7.2 for more information.
The other setting available here is the T.O.V.A. PTE Activation Service port. Please don’t change this setting unless instructed by T.O.V.A. technical support! Very few people will have trouble communicating with the T.O.V.A. service on this port; if you do, it can be modified here, but it must be also modified in pte-svc.ini. See section 38.7 for more details on the T.O.V.A. PTE Activation service.
The Status window is available from the main window by clicking the ‘Status’ button. The purpose of this window is to alert you to possible problems with the T.O.V.A. and provide simple solutions.
To help in identifying problems, the Status window uses condition colors:
If the ‘Status’ button on the main window is green, everything should be working. If it’s yellow or red, click the button for more specific status information and solutions.
Each category pane has several standard options:
In addition to these, status panes often have other buttons available.
Here is where you can see when your T.O.V.A. database was last automatically backed up. Click ‘Preferences’ to change your automatic backup options (see section 27.5 for more information on new backup features).
This pane of the Status window can tell you if you are low on credits or if there is session data that should be saved. The category will be unavailable (black) if there is no device attached. See section 22.
Notifications are a way The TOVA Company can contact you about account support issues. Accounts are linked to T.O.V.A. USB devices, so to receive notifications you must have internet access and a T.O.V.A. USB device attached. You can ‘Delete’ messages once you have addressed them.
This pane warns you if your Precision Test Environment (PTE, section 34) was out-of-date and provides an option to ‘Test the PTE...’. This usually indicates you need an updated boot CD (section 35.3) or flash drive (section 35.2). It will also inform you if there is a log from the PTE that you can send to T.O.V.A. tech support.
(Windows only)
The T.O.V.A. Windows service provides access to system functions, such as modifying system boot settings and installing software updates, that are not accessible to all users. This pane communicates any problems with the service and provides options such as restarting the T.O.V.A. service or opening the Windows service console. See section 38.7.
This pane will alert you to an available software update or tell you if a previous update failed. See section 30.
The TOVA Company is committed to helping our customers however we can to use the T.O.V.A. . That’s why you can reach out to us right from the T.O.V.A. application. The Help window (click ‘Help’ from the main window) contains three buttons to contact The TOVA Company:
And you can still always contact us by phone (1.800.PAY.ATTN or 562.594.7700), email (info@tovatest.com), or fax (800.452.6919 or 562.594.7770) instead.
In Figure 52, we see the Contact Technical Support window. We’ll use it as our example.
This should be the best person for us to talk to or email about the issue. For a technical issue, it’s best if this person has full administrator access to the computer. For an interpretation issue, this will be a clinician. Information entered into these fields will be remembered and filled in automatically, so make sure to review and correct an email address or phone number that may have changed. Add any additional names, numbers, or email addresses to the large Details field.
In the large text field you can ask your questions or give us more information about technical issues. It’s okay to just leave the ‘Attention’ field blank, but if you’ve already talked to a specific technical support representative about this issue, please add their name here.
When you send a technical support request, we will collect information from your system that may help us resolve the issues. Specifically, we send these:
All of this information is technical and can often help us answer your questions and resolve technical issues. There’s a lot of information, and on some systems it may take a minute to collect and upload. Contact us if you’d like to more details about the information collected.
If you have questions for technical or interpretation support about specific subjects or sessions, you can attach them here. When you click the ‘Attach sessions’ button, you will be shown a list of subjects and sessions, along with a search bar, similar to the main window. Click to highlight the subject or session you want to attach (selecting a subject will attach all of their sessions). To select more than one, use ‘Ctrl’-click (Mac users, ‘Command’-click) to highlight each additional, or ‘Shift’-click to highlight a range.
Notice the checkbox at the bottom of Figure 53, ‘Remove Protected Health Information’. This is selected by default and will strip out of subjects or sessions you attach any information that would personally identify the subject. In rare instances where a question is specific to that personal information, you may uncheck this box. For more information on protecting personal health information, see section 26.
Click ‘Attach Selections’ to include those selected subjects and sessions or ‘Clear Selections’ if you decide not to attach any. When you’re finished, the ‘Attach sessions’ button will display a green check to indicate sessions are attached.
Sometimes something may be happening on the screen that’s hard to describe to technical support. Click the ‘Screenshot’ button, and a small window appears (see Figure 54).
When you click the ‘Capture’ button, whatever’s showing on the screen beneath will be attached as an image to your support request. A thumbnail of that image will then display in the Screenshot window. If it doesn’t look right, arrange your windows and try another capture. If you can’t tell, resize the window to make the captured image larger. When you’re finished, click ‘OK’ and the ‘Screenshot’ button will now have a green check, indicating your request has the screenshot attached. You may instead click ‘Clear’ if you decided not to attach any screenshot.
Preview lets you see all the information and files you’ll be sending us when you click the ‘Send’ button. It’s not necessary, but it’s there for the curious.
When you choose ‘Send’, all of the information you’ve selected will be collected together, compressed, and uploaded through your internet connection to us. This can be a lot of information, so it may take a minute. When it’s finished, you should see a message stating simply, “Your contact request succeeded.”
If, however, your upload fails, you might try the next option.
If your system is not connected to the internet, or if you have problems uploading your contact request, choose ‘Save’ to collect and save all the information to a file. Then you can copy the file to another system and/or attach it to an email to support@tovatest.com.
You can guess what these buttons do.
Since software updates to the T.O.V.A. are free, we’ve worked to make keeping your T.O.V.A. up to date as easy as possible. When a new version of the T.O.V.A. is available, the T.O.V.A. will download it automatically.
Note: The T.O.V.A. will never update without your consent; you will always be prompted before an update is installed. However, you can disable automatic download of updates in the Preferences (section 27.16).
When there is a new update available, the ‘Status’ button on the main window will turn yellow.
Click the ‘Status’ button on the main window and then ‘Updates’, and you’ll see the Updates pane. This pane will tell you if your T.O.V.A. is up to date, if there’s a newer version available, and more. Some of these options may also appear:
Once the T.O.V.A. finishes downloading the latest version, click ‘Install software update’ button, and you’ll be next prompted to review the release notes and accept the updated license agreement, if any.
Note: Please save or erase any session on the T.O.V.A. USB device before updating the T.O.V.A. software. Software updates often include a firmware update, and any session data on the device will be lost.
If you accept the agreement, the T.O.V.A. will exit and begin the update process. Once the update is complete, the T.O.V.A. will automatically start back up.
Some software updates may come with updates to the device or microswitch firmware, the software on your T.O.V.A. hardware. Yeah, the hardware has software, too.
When a firmware upgrade is available, the T.O.V.A. will prompt you to install it immediately (Figure 56). Though you can choose to ‘Continue Anyway’, the T.O.V.A. will prompt you pretty persistently. Firmware upgrades often involve fixes critical to testing, so we advise you to always install firmware upgrades. Click the ‘Install firmware’ button, and the firmware update will begin. It shouldn’t take more than two minutes. Note: Please don’t disconnect the T.O.V.A. USB device or try to administer a test during a firmware update.
When the firmware update is finished, you’re ready to administer more T.O.V.A. tests. If the firmware update fails, restart the T.O.V.A. application, reattach the T.O.V.A. USB device , and let it try again. The T.O.V.A. USB device must have valid firmware compatible with the software.
Usually an update to the T.O.V.A. means an update to the PTE, to increase compatibility with new hardware, add new features, and fix bugs. If you’re using a T.O.V.A. CD to boot the PTE on your system, you need to update that CD to boot the latest version of the PTE. See section 35.3 for details on where to download the latest CD image and steps to update the CD in your OS.
Likewise, if you’re using the T.O.V.A. flash drive to boot the PTE instead, it also needs to be kept up to date (section 35.2).
We try to anticipate every hardware and software configuration, but something may still happen that causes the automatic update to fail. If there were install errors or the install didn’t complete, the Update tab of the Status window will display a red error status and will prompt you to ‘Retry update’. We recommend you reboot your computer before trying the update again.
You can also click ‘Manual Update’ to try manually updating the T.O.V.A. . For more information, see section 37.3.
If you encounter further problems, please contact T.O.V.A. tech support for help (section 29).
Reference |
This is the reference section, where we answer all the questions we didn’t answer in the rest of the manual. If you can’t find your answer here, don’t forget: you can always contact T.O.V.A. technical support (section 29).
This reference section deals with the T.O.V.A. hardware, what it does, and how to diagnose hardware problems.
The T.O.V.A. USB device is a miniature computer that is essential for administering the T.O.V.A. test:
It’s also important to know what the T.O.V.A. USB device doesn’t do:
The light on the front of the T.O.V.A. USB device indicates to you and to us what the T.O.V.A. USB device is doing. It can also be a distraction to your subjects, which is why we recommend that you keep it out of sight during testing. The microswitch has a nice long cable for just this reason, and the reset light is recessed somewhat to make obscuring it that much easier.
Here are the colors you might expect to see using the T.O.V.A. :
| Color | Status | Description |
| Yellow | Powered | Device is finding power, but is not recognized by your OS.* |
| Green | Ready | Device is attached and recognized by your OS. |
| Blue | Testing | Device is running the T.O.V.A. test. If the device is disconnected or loses power while the light is blue, your test data will be lost. |
| Red | Error | An error prevents testing (e.g., microswitch unplugged). The red light may blink to indicate a specific error. |
| White | Switch down | The microswitch is being pressed (It doesn’t turn white during testing, to avoid distraction). |
* Note: A yellow light may indicate you haven’t installed the T.O.V.A. USB device drivers. You should install the T.O.V.A. software before you setup the hardware. See section 11.12 for information on installing the T.O.V.A. .
To use the T.O.V.A. 9 software, you will need T.O.V.A. 9 hardware. You cannot administer the T.O.V.A. 9 test with T.O.V.A. 7 or T.O.V.A. 8 hardware. Please contact T.O.V.A. Customer Service (section 29) to purchase a T.O.V.A. 9 kit.
If the T.O.V.A. does not recognize that your T.O.V.A. USB device is attached, try the following:
Other tips:
Sometimes there can be communication problems with the T.O.V.A. USB device . There are two common causes of this:
If the above doesn’t resolve the problem, try the “Device not found" steps above (section 31.1.3). If it continues to happen, there may be a problem with your computer or your T.O.V.A. hardware–contact T.O.V.A. technical support for help (section 29).
If ever your screen will not show the correct picture or your speakers are making a sound they shouldn’t be, you can reset the T.O.V.A. USB device by pressing the button (that little light) on the front. That will return audio and video control to your system. If you’re still having audio or video problems then, it’s probably not the T.O.V.A. USB device causing them.
Note: You should also make sure that the USB cable is properly attached, as that power is needed to carry the audio and video signals.
Instead of mice or keyboards (both unpredictably inaccurate), the T.O.V.A. uses a standardized microswitch which performs reliably and consistently. The T.O.V.A. microswitch has a built-in light sensor that we use to calibrate your display. For more information on calibration, see section 20.5.1.
To connect the new microswitch to the T.O.V.A. USB device , line up the arrows on the top of the connector with the top of the T.O.V.A. device and push it gently into the port. You do not need to twist or turn or squeeze in any way.
To disconnect the microswitch from the T.O.V.A. USB device , grasp the connector on either side and pull it gently but firmly out from the device. Again, you do not need to twist or turn or squeeze the connector in any way.
The T.O.V.A. microswitch gets the most use (and abuse) of any part of the T.O.V.A. kit, and a test taken with a faulty microswitch can’t be considered reliable.
If you need a new microswitch, contact T.O.V.A. customer service (section 29) immediately, so we can replace it as soon as possible. Note: We might ask you to send us the old one for quality control purposes.
The Check Hardware window has information and tools for testing and fixing the T.O.V.A. USB device , the microswitch, and your system’s connections to them. Let’s review them briefly:
On the right side of the Check T.O.V.A. hardware window you are given all the information about your T.O.V.A. hardware.
Below these are more advanced functions. Note: You should not use these without direction from T.O.V.A. technical support.
You must calibrate your display to administer the visual T.O.V.A. test. Whether it’s a modern LCD display or a big, old CRT monitor, every display has some delay, however brief. Calibration allows the T.O.V.A. to properly account for your display’s specific timing, so that the results of the T.O.V.A. will be as precise and accurate as possible.
Most displays will calibrate successfully. However, others may encounter errors during calibration.
The first thing you should do if your calibration fails is try it again. Make sure that you’re holding the microswitch so that the bottom of the microswitch (where the photodiode window is) is directly touching the surface of your screen, but not pressing down hard. The button should be facing outward from the screen and the cord should be hanging down from the back of the microswitch, as indicated on the calibration diagram (Figure 63). Calibration may take a minute or so, but try to hold the microswitch still.
Secondly, some displays may take a few minutes to finish warming up. Restart the calibration and leave the message “Place microswitch in box and press button” on the screen for at least two minutes before starting a second time.
Thirdly, your display may be too dim, and you should increase the brightness and try calibration again. Once calibration is complete, you can lower the brightness again as appropriate.
If you continue to get the same error, the problem can be diagnosed here:
Once you get a successful calibration, you should be good to administer the test, and you won’t need to recalibrate every time. If you replace your system’s monitor or video card, however, you should always recalibrate the T.O.V.A. to the new display hardware.
If you continue to receive errors, your display may not be capable of accurately administering the T.O.V.A. test. The T.O.V.A. will not administer the visual T.O.V.A. test on a display unless it can be successfully calibrated. Please contact T.O.V.A. technical support (see section 29), so we can get more information about your monitor and recommend other models that will work better.
Audio is an important part of the T.O.V.A. . The T.O.V.A. test instructions are spoken by your computer. The auditory test complements the visual test by measuring attention differently. As a result, we want the T.O.V.A. to work with your system’s audio hardware. Are your test instructions too loud and your auditory test too quiet, or vice versa? If you’re having sound problems with the T.O.V.A. , we can help you fix that.
The PTE and EAV tests each have their own volume settings. The sections to follow can help you address volume problems in each testing environment, but first a couple of general audio tips.
The easiest way to control volume is by raising or lowering the volume on your external speakers. However, if you have no external speakers–a laptop with a basic PTE hardware setup (section 15.1), for instance—you can skip to the next section.
If you can’t hear the auditory test or the test instructions, check your speakers first: Are they plugged in, turned on, and turned all the way up?
The test instructions are accompanied by audio by default. Press the space bar to pause or restart the instruction audio and the ‘S’ key to turn the audio on (or off) while the instructions are playing. Note: With the instruction audio off, the instructions must be advanced manually, using the right arrow key.
For audio problems in the PTE, use the PTE volume controls. From the main PTE menu, press ↑ to raise the volume one step and ↓ to lower it. Each time a brief audio clip will be played, and a number will be displayed. The volume level you choose will be stored when you return to your OS and preserved for your next PTE session.
Note: These volume controls are only available from the main PTE screen and not during the T.O.V.A. test or the Test Instructions.
A Note on the Auditory Test: If the target (higher) tone is significantly louder than the nontarget (lower) tone, the problem is the bass response of your speakers. This can often be an issue with laptops, and you will need to use different speakers to resolve this. Contact T.O.V.A. customer service for recommendations.
If your sound works fine in your OS but does not work in the PTE, the PTE may not be selecting the correct audio hardware. You may see an audio error or the speaker button at the bottom of the main PTE menu will be disabled.
First, click the wrench button (or press ‘Alt’ + ‘A’). The next steps vary between the modern and legacy PTE:
In the modern PTE (1.1):
In the legacy PTE (9.1):
If the audio played correctly, great! Resume your PTE test session or click ‘Done’ to return to your OS. Your device selection will be preserved.
If you get an error after choosing the audio device, go back to ‘Change audio device’ again and select a different audio device, if any. If you try all the devices here and no audio plays, your audio hardware may be incompatible with the PTE. If this is your situation, please contact T.O.V.A. tech support. We are doing our best to make the T.O.V.A. PTE work for every sound card.
Note: Please use this screen carefully, preferably on the advice of T.O.V.A. technical support. The main PTE volume and mixer defaults will work best for most systems, so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
While the T.O.V.A. PTE has gotten increasingly proficient at recognizing hardware and adjusting settings to the right default levels, some computers may still need additional tweaks. If your audio is too quiet, too loud, or distorted somehow, and the main PTE volume can’t correct the problem, the latest PTE version has an audio mixer that might help you.
Click the wrench button at the bottom of the main PTE menu (or press ‘Alt’ + ‘A’). Click the ‘Audio’ tab (or choose ‘[A]djust audio levels’ in the legacy PTE). Here you will be able to see and adjust all the channels for your computer’s audio device. The bar indicates the volume level, and the box next to it whether the channel is turned on or off.
Please note that this screen is not about selecting a specific channel to be used by the T.O.V.A. , but rather the audio levels contributing to the sound in the T.O.V.A. . Some may be best turned off, and some may have no effect whatsoever. We are happy to help you find the settings that will work best for your system.
Let’s talk about how to resolve audio problems with the External A/V (EAV) test.
Make sure you have your T.O.V.A. hardware set up correctly for EAV testing.
T.O.V.A. test instruction audio comes from your computer. However, during an EAV auditory test, the T.O.V.A. USB device will play the tones. So you have multiple audio sources and multiple volume controls: your OS’s volume (which may have more than one control), the T.O.V.A. USB device ’s volume, and your speakers’ volume.
Here are steps you can follow that will solve most EAV audio problems:
If you see an audio error when launching an External A/V (EAV) session, please try these steps:
We have noticed that sometimes you can hear noise with the EAV setup that you don’t hear if the speakers are plugged directly into your computer. We’ve found this is specifically the case with some laptops—that’s because the laptop is actually producing the noise.
While the T.O.V.A. USB device may not be producing this noise, it might be amplifying it. Fortunately, the static or whine should go away during Auditory testing, when the computer’s sound is cut off. If you find that it does not, try different speakers or contact T.O.V.A. tech support.
In the T.O.V.A. , there are two ways of administering a T.O.V.A. test session: PTE and EAV. When you configure your T.O.V.A. software during install (section 14), you must choose one or the other.
Both session types administer the same T.O.V.A. test, giving you the same precise, accurate test results. Both provide multimedia test instructions to prepare your subject for the T.O.V.A. test. Both require you to calibrate your display once before you can administer your first test. The only question is which session type works best for your system:
| PTE Setup | External Audio/Video (EAV) Setup | ||
| • | For laptops without an external monitor or speakers | • | Best for desktop PCs or laptops connected to an external monitor and speakers |
| • | The simplest hardware setup | • | Requires an external VGA monitor, among other additional connections |
| • | Requires that you reboot your system to the PTE (Precision Test Environment) to run a T.O.V.A. session | • | Allows you to test in your OS (Windows, macOS) without rebooting |
| • | Compatible with most modern Windows or Mac computers, but not all | • | Works on every modern Windows or Mac computer |
The External Audio/Video session does NOT require rebooting your system. That’s because instead of relying on your system clock, video, etc., the T.O.V.A. hardware handles the timing itself. We manage the test video (or audio) and microswitch, removed from your operating system’s unpredictable delays, so you get the same reliable timing precision and accuracy we have been providing for decades.
What an External A/V session DOES require is an external VGA monitor (and speakers for the auditory test). There must be an external display plugged into the T.O.V.A. USB device for T.O.V.A. testing without rebooting to the PTE. See section 15.2 for detailed instructions.
The T.O.V.A. USB device is installed between your computer and your monitor and speakers. Video and audio simply pass through the T.O.V.A. USB device . When you start the T.O.V.A. test, however, the T.O.V.A. USB device temporarily interrupts your audio and video, instead displaying the T.O.V.A. test. Once the test is completed (or interrupted), your audio and video pass through as normal.
Note: Please make sure to disable, at least temporarily, any Sleep/Standby/Hibernate power settings for your system. Because External A/V testing does not use the keyboard or mouse, some systems will shutdown due to inactivity. See section 37.1 for more information.
If you have set up your hardware for EAV testing, you can check that it’s working and connected correctly. Run the T.O.V.A. and go to ‘Help’, ‘Check T.O.V.A. Hardware’, ‘Test your hardware setup’. This wizard will walk you through verifying all of your connections.
Note: If the first page of the Hardware Setup wizard talks about the “PTE" instead of the “EAV", you need to change your launch settings. In the T.O.V.A. ‘Preferences’, go to ‘Session launch’, select ‘External Audio/Video (EAV)’, click ‘Save’, and then try the Hardware Setup wizard again.
The T.O.V.A. Precision Test Environment (PTE) was developed and refined over the years to allow accurate, precise T.O.V.A. test timing without additional hardware or connections. The PTE is an operating system like Windows or macOS, but since it’s dedicated entirely to T.O.V.A. testing, it doesn’t have the inconsistent timing of modern operating systems. Administering a T.O.V.A. test session in the PTE requires rebooting your computer.
As computers have evolved over the years, we’ve worked hard to adapt the PTE to new hardware and security restrictions. Most computers will be able to boot the PTE automatically, but some will require special support. When you install the T.O.V.A. on a new computer, we recommend you test out the PTE—before you bring in patients—and contact us if you encounter problems. Note: This will not use any of your test credits.
To start off, make sure the default preferences are selected. These will have the best chance of working.
Next, test booting the PTE.
Now that we’ve set our preferences, try booting the PTE. (Note: This will not use any T.O.V.A. test credits.)
Your computer should reboot to the Precision Test Environment (Figure 70, with a button to ‘Calibrate display’. Next, please test the PTE itself (section 34.1.4).
If you encounter problems booting the PTE or in the PTE itself, call T.O.V.A. tech support immediately or see section 34.2.3 for some helpful support options. If rebooting your computer brings you right back to the T.O.V.A. application or errors prevent you from from rebooting, you can save time by sending a tech support request (section 29) before you call.
The 2018 generation of Macs and beyond are starting to incorporate a T2 security chip that blocks the T.O.V.A. PTE from running. These models and beyond are affected:
If you encounter this problem, please contact T.O.V.A. tech support (section 29) for options.
Mac computers should be able to boot the T.O.V.A. PTE easily:
If the above steps don’t work for you or you would like help with them, please contact T.O.V.A. tech support (section 29).
We highly recommend you test the PTE before your subject is sitting next you, waiting. When testing the PTE, please do the following:
If all of this works correctly, you should be ready for PTE T.O.V.A. testing.
Using the Precision Test Environment (PTE) is simple and straightforward. There are two versions of the PTE for the T.O.V.A. , "modern" and "legacy", but the two are largely the same. The T.O.V.A. will boot the PTE version that is compatible with your computer, so don’t worry about choosing the right one.
The main PTE interface mimics the External A/V session interface. At the top you will see the main subject/session information. You should be sure that this information is correct, or you may be administering the wrong test!
In the modern PTE you can change to a different Test type (Visual or Auditory) or Test Instructions language (‘Alt’+‘L’). Note: Even though you can change the test type, you should still only run one test per PTE session. Running a second test in the same session will overwrite the results for the first test. In other words, you should run your Visual test and then click ’Done’ to return to your OS and save your test data before trying to run an Auditory test.
Below that information is a column of five buttons, one for each of the five steps of administering a T.O.V.A. test. As you complete each step successfully, a green check will appear beside the button. If instead a yellow warning sign appears, that step did not finish successfully, and you may want to repeat it.
Your first step in the PTE is to calibrate your display, and you must calibrate successfully before you can administer a PTE test. Thereafter, the T.O.V.A. will remember this information, so the next time you test you won’t have to recalibrate. When you update your T.O.V.A. software, you’ll have to recalibrate, and if you install a new monitor or video card, you should recalibrate then, too.
Once calibration has completed successfully, a green check will appear next to the button. This indicates that the PTE has valid calibration data. If you see a red error circle instead, calibration has failed, and you will need to try again (Figure 71). See section 31.4 for assistance.
In the legacy PTE, there is an up arrow (↑) button that raises the volume one step and the down arrow (↓) lowers it. In the modern PTE, there is a volume slider instead. Each time the volume is adjusted a brief audio clip will play.
The Advanced window in the modern PTE has multiple tabs:
There are several Advanced options available in the legacy PTE:
Maybe the PTE is displaying a strange error. Maybe you’re stuck at a black screen with a bunch of techno-jargon. Maybe the sound doesn’t work, even after you turn it up.
Whatever is going wrong, here are the best steps to take first:
If you launch the PTE from Windows using the ‘Automatic (default)’ boot option, the T.O.V.A. service will boot the PTE the best way it can find. If the service cannot find a way to boot the PTE automatically, though, don’t give up hope. Please click ‘Send to tech support’, so that we can assist you.
The T.O.V.A. kit comes with a brushed metal T.O.V.A. flash drive, though your T.O.V.A. kit may have come with the older white flash drive. This flash drive contains installers for the T.O.V.A. software that came with your T.O.V.A. kit, as well as documentation such as the Installation Guide and User’s manual. The flash drive can also be used on some computers to boot the Precision Test Environment (PTE). If you do not have a T.O.V.A. flash drive and need one, please contact T.O.V.A. customer service.
The T.O.V.A. CD came with older versions of the T.O.V.A. kit, serving much the same function as the T.O.V.A. flash drive. It can be updated to act as a boot CD for the legacy PTE, but this is only useful on older computers that a) still have a CD drive and b) can successfully boot the legacy PTE (mostly those sold with Windows 7). If you need to boot the PTE from a T.O.V.A. CD but don’t have one, you can create one from a blank CD-R instead (section 35.3).
Most computers should be able to boot the T.O.V.A. PTE automatically and won’t need a T.O.V.A. flash drive or CD. However, many systems will need to use the T.O.V.A. flash drive included in your kit, and will likely require some additional steps or configuration as well. If the T.O.V.A. doesn’t boot the PTE automatically, please contact T.O.V.A. tech support, and we’ll help you find the best approach for your system. You may also reach out to your organization’s IT department or ask your system’s manufacturer how to boot to a flash drive.
Your T.O.V.A. flash drive or CD also contains software installers and documentation, but we recommend you download the latest software for your T.O.V.A. hardware from our website instead: Go to https://www.tovatest.com/downloads and enter your T.O.V.A. serial number (found on a sticker on the bottom of your T.O.V.A. USB device or in the Help window of the T.O.V.A. application).
It is critical that the T.O.V.A. PTE remain up to date, with a version of the PTE that is compatible with your computer and the T.O.V.A. software. If you are using the T.O.V.A. flash drive to boot the PTE, and the T.O.V.A. application warns you that your PTE is out-of-date, you will need to update the flash drive.
Note: If you use a T.O.V.A. CD to boot the PTE, please see section 35.3 instead.
If you have a white T.O.V.A. flash drive, which comes up as tova8 or TOVA9, you will probably need to contact T.O.V.A. technical support to update or replace it. Note: It’s not as simple as just reformatting the drive.
If the drive has a brushed metal finish or comes up in Windows with a drive label of TOVATEST, it’s probably formatted as a newer T.O.V.A. flash drive, and the T.O.V.A. software should be able to automatically update the flash drive for you. Make sure it’s plugged in when you launch a PTE session.
Note: If you have personal files on the T.O.V.A. flash drive, PLEASE copy them elsewhere before updating the drive.
If you are using a Mac, the T.O.V.A. software installs scripts for creating or updating T.O.V.A. flash drives to boot the current PTE versions.
When it has finished, you can use the T.O.V.A. flash drive to boot the current PTE. Please contact T.O.V.A. tech support (section 29) if you would like help or encounter problems.
If you are using a T.O.V.A. boot CD, it is critical that you update it every time you update the T.O.V.A. so that you’re using the current version of the legacy PTE. The T.O.V.A. CD itself was a CD-RW and can be updated by most CD-RW drives and CD creation software. If you do not have a T.O.V.A. CD, you can write the T.O.V.A. CD image to any blank CD-R ("burning" just means writing data to a CD).
The T.O.V.A. has a script for burning the current CD image:
When it has finished, your CD is up to date, and you can use the CD to boot the current legacy PTE.
Here’s how to burn a CD to boot the legacy PTE in Windows:
(If that option is not available to you, you may need to ‘Open’ the image file in your CD-burning software. Different systems have different burning software, so you will need to navigate your own software to burn the image to the CD.)
Note: Please DO NOT just ‘add’ or ‘copy’ the image file to the CD, because that won’t work. You want to burn the image to the disc.
The burning process should take only a few minutes. When it’s done, you’ll have a fresh new T.O.V.A. CD with the current legacy PTE.
The T.O.V.A. has multimedia test instructions, with text to read and audible instructions to listen to. There are even pictures to illustrate how the test will appear and how to hold the microswitch.
The T.O.V.A. tester may also choose to give test instructions manually. The sections to follow will tell you how to adjust and control the multimedia test instructions to suit your needs and the needs of your subjects.
T.O.V.A. test instructions can appear in many languages, so that you can prepare your subject in their native language: Arabic*, Chinese*, Danish, English, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi*, Japanese*, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil)*, Spanish (Latin America), Swahili*, and Swedish are currently available.
We hope to add more languages in the future—contact T.O.V.A. customer service to let us know which languages you’d like us to add (section 29). For information on changing the language of your T.O.V.A. Test Instructions, see section 20.4.
* These languages are not available in the legacy PTE.
By default, the T.O.V.A. test instructions are automatic, but to better control the pace of instructions, you may want to turn off the sound and read the instructions aloud. While the instructions are playing, you can press ‘S’ to the sound turn off and on, the space bar to pause the instructions, and the left and right arrow keys (or mouse buttons) to go forward or backward. Press ‘Esc’ to skip the instructions completely.
Note: If the instruction audio is turned off or unavailable (missing or unrecognized sound card, for instance), the instructions will not proceed automatically. You must skip through the instructions manually with the right arrow key or left mouse button.
The following are instructions you may read aloud to the subject. The wording assumes that you are stepping through the multimedia instruction pages. You may want to adapt them to your needs and those of your subject, particularly if you’re only using the book. The images to follow can help you. If you would like these instructions in a different language, please contact T.O.V.A. customer service (section 29).
Read the following:
Welcome to the T.O.V.A. test.Hold the button in your writing hand with your thumb resting lightly on top of the button, like this.(indicate Figure 76) When you press the button, let up as soon as you hear the click (click the button); you don’t have to hold it down.
This test measures your ability to pay attention. Two different squares will flash on the screen. One square has a small black square near the top, like this (indicate Figure 77), and the other has the small square near the bottom, like this (indicate Figure 77). The squares will flash on the screen, like this: (Multimedia instructions show a brief animation of the test.)
Press the button as fast as you can every time you see a square with the small square near the top and don’t press the button when the small square is near the bottom. Once again, press the button only when you see the small square near the top.
Don’t guess which square will flash; make sure you see it before you press the button. Try to balance speed and accuracy: press the button as fast as you can, but also try not to make any mistakes. If you do make a mistake, don’t worry: anyone can make a mistake on this test.
Let’s review:
- Press the button as fast as you can, but only when you see the small square near the top.
- When you press the button, only press it once and don’t hold it down. Just “click" the button.
- Finally, don’t go too fast or try to guess; take enough time to see which square it is.
You are about to take a short practice test. After a countdown, the squares will begin to flash. Remember, be as fast and accurate as you can.
For subjects over 5.5 years old, read the following:
You are about to take the T.O.V.A. test, which will take about 20 minutes.You might notice that your eyes get a little tired. Even so, try and do the best job you can. Remember to press the button as quickly as you can, but only when the small square is near the top.
For subjects 4 to 5.5 years old, read the following instead:
You are about to take the T.O.V.A. test, which will take about 10 minutes.You might notice that your eyes get a little tired. Even so, try and do the best job you can. Remember to press the button as quickly as you can, but only when the small square is near the top.
Note: Even when the sound is turned off, the multimedia test instructions will demonstrate the auditory stimuli audibly.
Read the following:
Welcome to the T.O.V.A. test.Hold the button in your writing hand with your thumb resting lightly on top of the button, like this.(indicate) When you press the button, let up as soon as you hear the click (click the button); you don’t have to hold it down.
This test measures your ability to pay attention. Two different tones will play on the speakers. One tone is a high note, and the other is a low note. The tones will play every few seconds.
Press the button as fast as you can every time you see hear the high note and don’t press the button when you hear the low note. Once again, press the button only when you hear the high note.
Don’t guess which tone will play; make sure you hear it before you press the button. Try to balance speed and accuracy: press the button as fast as you can, but also try not to make any mistakes. If you do make a mistake, don’t worry: anyone can make a mistake on this test.
Let’s review:
- Press the button as fast as you can, but only when you hear the high tone.
- When you press the button, only press it once and don’t hold it down. Just “click" the button.
- Finally, don’t go too fast or try to guess; take enough time to decide which tone it is.
You are about to take a short practice test. After a countdown, the tones will begin to play. Remember, be as fast and accurate as you can.
For subjects over 5.5 years old, read the following:
You are about to take the T.O.V.A. test, which will take about 20 minutes.You might notice that you get a little tired. Even so, try and do the best job you can. Remember to press the button as quickly as you can, but only when hear the high tone.
For subjects 4 to 5.5 years old, read the following instead:
You are about to take the T.O.V.A. test, which will take about 10 minutes.You might notice that you get a little tired. Even so, try and do the best job you can. Remember to press the button as quickly as you can, but only when hear the high tone.
This reference section gives simple instructions on technical procedures.
When a computer is not being used for a while, some systems are configured to go into “Sleep mode", “Standby mode", “Hibernation", or some other power saving state. While this is good for conserving energy, it can be bad for External A/V testing. Because the T.O.V.A. test does not use the computer or mouse, some systems can fall asleep during a test, which will essentially ruin the results of the test.
The T.O.V.A. tries to counteract this, but it does not work on all computers. To be on the safe side, we recommend that you disable Sleep Mode on any T.O.V.A. system where you intend to do External A/V testing. If that’s not possible, the computer’s sleep mode should wait at least an hour.
Note: How to disable Sleep Mode on different systems will vary somewhat. If the instructions below don’t work for you, contact your system’s manufacturer.
Having trouble finding your T.O.V.A. data? There are a few possible explanations for this:
Note: Even if there was nothing in the search field to begin with, there can be occasional display glitches. Pressing ‘Enter’ will refresh the contents of the main window and fix most of these problems. If you find any repeatable problems (“Every time I do this, the display does that.”), please let us know. We want to fix any such problems.
With the T.O.V.A. ’s Automatic Update, we’ve tried to make keeping your T.O.V.A. up to date with the latest features and fixes easier than ever. However, sometimes automatic update will fail (Did you really close all your programs before updating?), and in this case you may want to update your T.O.V.A. manually.
A manual update works just as well as the automatic one, with one caveat: You must have access to Administrator permissions. Here’s how you do it:
Note: The installer is a large file (about 300 MB at the moment). If you have problems downloading it, you might need to find a system with a better internet connection. Download the installer from a more reliable connection, copy it to a flash drive, and bring it to your T.O.V.A. computer. If you do not have the flash drive included in your T.O.V.A. kit, you can request one from The TOVA Company.
That’s it! The good thing about a manual update is that it may make apparent what error was causing the update to fail before, and perhaps even let you correct it.
Transferring the T.O.V.A. from one computer to another is not really a problem. The T.O.V.A. software can be installed on multiple computers, even if you only have one T.O.V.A. device, and there are no copy restrictions.
T.O.V.A. technical support can answer questions about your specific computers, but here are some general steps:
For more specifics or if you run into trouble along the way, please send us a tech support request (section 29) on the old computer and on the new one, or just give us a call.
There are certain T.O.V.A. preferences that require administrative privileges to access. If you are unable to access Admin preferences in the T.O.V.A. , you should run T.O.V.A. Admin Settings with administrative privileges.
Note: Some preferences that can be modified in the T.O.V.A. application are not accessible in T.O.V.A. Admin settings.
The easiest way is from ‘Change Admin settings’ button in the T.O.V.A. ’s Preferences window.
You can also use the separate T.O.V.A. Admin Settings application:
Moving your database is pretty easy in the T.O.V.A. .
First, ALWAYS back up your T.O.V.A. database (section 23) before attempting any procedure like this. Then simply change your database path, and the T.O.V.A. will offer to move the database for you. Here’s how it works:
Note: To move your database to a different computer, simply back up your database (section 23), copy the backup file to the new computer, and import it (section 24).
You can still always move your database as you previously could in the T.O.V.A. . This includes these main steps:
If you’re not comfortable with these steps, contact T.O.V.A. technical support for assistance. We are happy to help.
There are a few things to remember when choosing a different database location:
Sometimes you may find that a test was administered to the wrong subject. The T.O.V.A. provides a couple of ways to fix this problem. First, a few important notes:
You can reassign a test session by first editing the session and then choosing ‘Assign to a different subject’.
You can also reassign a session with drag-and-drop. Double-clicking a subject will expand it to show all the tests administered to that subject. You can then click on the test that’s misassigned and drag it to the correct subject.
This reference section contains articles on specific features of the T.O.V.A. , discussed in more detail.
Everything starts from the main T.O.V.A. window. Some of these options may not always be available.
There’s a search field at the top of the T.O.V.A. main window. When you type a search term and press ‘Enter’, the tables update to display subjects and sessions that match your search.
How it works is best explained with an example: If you enter joe smith, the search will return the subjects and sessions that contain joe and smith. This might mean a subject named Smith whose T.O.V.A. test was administered by a tester named Joe. It will also find subjects and sessions containing a name such as Joel Nesmith, and John Smithy whose Treatments include 3 cups of Joe. It won’t, however, find records that have joe but not smith or vice verse; by default, search looks for records containing all search terms.
You can also use the OR operator. Enter joe OR smith to find all the subjects and sessions that contain either joe or smith. Note: OR must be capitalized, or it will be treated like another search term (joe or smith will look for subjects and sessions containing joe, or, and smith).
Confused yet? Play around with it–we bet you’ll figure it out!
Text searches include the following fields:
If you give a number (1234), then the term is also matched against subject number, session number, and serial number.
You can also use dates: If a term is parsable as a date (5/12/2009), the results will include subjects with that birthdate and sessions with that test date. You can also use before: and after:, to provide a range of test dates; for instance, after:9/1/2004 before:9/8/2004 will return all the tests administered September 1st through 7th, 2004. (Note: Test dates are interpreted as 12 midnight, so after:9/1/2004 includes all tests administered that day, but before:9/1/2004 would not include any.)
Finally, as with other search engines, you can search on multiple terms. If you enter john smith, for instance, you will see all of the subjects/sessions that include the word “joe" and the word “smith" anywhere in the subject or session information (including the comments, tester, custom fields, etc.) You can also enter
You can restrict a search value to a specific field using the following strings. Note: With spaces, you must use quotes around field-specific search terms, like this: "Subject Number:123".
| Field to search | Type | Labels that can be used |
| Subject number | numeric | subject number:, sub:, subject: |
| Session number | numeric | session number:, ses:, session: |
| First name | string | first name:, first: |
| Last name | string | last name:, last: |
| First and last | string | name: |
| Comments | string | comments:, com:, comm: |
| Tester name | string | tester name:, tester:, user: |
| Medications | string | medications:, med:, meds:, treatment:, treatments: |
| Serial number | string | sn:, ser:, serial:, serial#:, serial #:, serial number: |
| Import date | string | import:, import date: |
You can also search by the age of a subject when tested.
| Label | Type | Examples |
| age: | numeric | age:7 returns all sessions administered to seven year olds. |
| (Not subjects who are seven now, only seven when tested.) | ||
| younger: | decimal | younger:18, younger:5.5 |
| older: | decimal | older:12 will not return a session administered on subject’s 12th birthday, |
| but will return her session administered the next day. |
Sorting your T.O.V.A. data works just like most software. In the main window, click on any column header to sort the rows of the table by that field, in ascending order. So when you click on ‘Last’, it reorders the rows by the subjects’ last name, from ’A’ to ’Z’. Click the same column a second time, and it will sort in descending order, from ’Z’ to ’A’. Simple!
For instance, if you run the T.O.V.A. intending to retest Mary Smith, type Mary and press ‘Enter’, and you’ll only see those subjects or sessions. If that’s taking too long, add Smith and press ‘Enter’ again. Or enter gibberish (such as ujxzda) and press ‘Enter’, and it will clear the search results and stop loading altogether.
After you administer a session, you may want to add more information, such as medications administered (see Treatments, section 38.4) or comments about the session that you did not note beforehand. You can also update any custom session fields you have added to your T.O.V.A. database. From the main window, select the session and click ‘Edit’.
Note: While you can also modify the test date/time here, you should do so with caution. It will affect the calculated age of the subject and dictate the norms used to interpret the results of the test. If your system clock is incorrect, please correct it. If it does not hold the correct time, this can be a serious system problem; you may want to consider using a different system to administer the T.O.V.A. in the future.
This is where you can correct calibration values for the T.O.V.A. test. This should never be necessary if the T.O.V.A. is configured correctly, so DON’T TOUCH THIS SETTING without consulting with T.O.V.A. technical support (section 29).
You can track medications and other treatments in the T.O.V.A. . When starting a new session or editing an administered session, click ‘Add’ to add a treatment to the list. There is no limit to the number of treatments you can add to a session.
You can add three different types of treatments:
Here you can read the other manuals, test the T.O.V.A. USB device and PTE, and contact us.
This displays information about your T.O.V.A. software and hardware, useful to T.O.V.A. technical support.
If you need to contact The TOVA Company for support or service, this tells you all you need to know, such as our phone number and web address. For the best service, click one of these buttons to use our built-in Support/Service Request feature. See section 29.
You can access any of the manuals or other T.O.V.A. documentation from the Help window. If you want to learn more about the T.O.V.A. , we’ve put all the information here:
For the most part, you will not need to use the Advanced Support features here. However, if you contact T.O.V.A. technical support, they may ask you to try one of these operations to help diagnose a problem.
There are a few features that were part of the T.O.V.A. 8 that were removed from the T.O.V.A. 9 when it was cleared by the FDA as a medical device. These features have not been cleared for use in a clinical setting, but if you would like to use the T.O.V.A. in a non-clinical research setting, you can switch to “Research mode” in the T.O.V.A. Preferences (section 27.9). Test sessions administered in Research mode will be flagged as research sessions, and the T.O.V.A. report will reflect this.
Likewise, the T.O.V.A. Synchronization Interface (see the T.O.V.A. Sync Interface manual for more information) is intended for research use only and sessions administered using the device will produce research sessions. A warning will appear whenever you start a new session with the sync interface attached unless you enable Research mode in the Preferences.
When the T.O.V.A. is in Research mode, “Research Mode” will appear under the T.O.V.A. logo in the main window.
When the T.O.V.A. is in research mode, these additional features become available:
All manuals are available from your Windows Start menu, even with Research mode disabled.
For more information about these features, see the T.O.V.A. Research User’s Manual. Let us know (section 29) if there are features you would like available for clinical or research use in future versions of the T.O.V.A. .
Note: This section applies only to Windows users.
The T.O.V.A. PTE Activation service is a background service we install on Windows to perform important tasks related to booting the PTE and installing T.O.V.A. updates. Windows users with limited permissions would not normally have access to all the functions this service performs. Therefore, instead of requiring that all T.O.V.A. users have Admin rights in Windows, the T.O.V.A. service acts as a system administrator to carefully perform these operations on request. These include the following:
Click the ‘Status’ button on the main window and then ‘Service’, and you’ll see the current status of the T.O.V.A. PTE Activation service. If the service has unexpectedly stopped or failed to start, click ‘Start service’ to attempt to restart the service. (Note: This requires administrator access to your computer.)
‘View Windows services’ will launch the Windows Services console. Here you can see all of your installed Windows services, including the T.O.V.A. PTE Activation service.
If you are unable to resolve any problems, you can disable the T.O.V.A. service (see section 38.7.2 for details). Otherwise, click ‘Send to tech support...’ for more help with the problem.
Some Windows systems encounter problems with the T.O.V.A. service (conflicting security settings, for instance). For these systems, you can disable the service.
The T.O.V.A. service performs necessary operations that many Windows users don’t have access to. When you disable the service, the T.O.V.A. performs the same operations without employing the service. Since these are advanced operations, you may be prompted to “allow the following program to make changes to this computer" before and after launching a T.O.V.A. session. Granting this permission requires you to have administrator access to your system.
You can disable the service as follows:
After that, launch a T.O.V.A. session to try it out. If you are unable to grant the permissions the system needs or if the prompts become tiresome, contact T.O.V.A. tech support (section 29) for additional options.
The T.O.V.A. PTE Activation service is a background service we install on Windows to perform important tasks related to booting the PTE and installing T.O.V.A. updates.
If you see the dialog above (Figure 86), there can be several reasons:
You can start the service manually:
If you receive an error, the service won’t start, or it stops after it starts, please send a Tech Support Request to T.O.V.A. technical support (see section 29 for details). You may have software that is blocking the service, or it may not have installed properly.
Windows startup is a little funny, and sometimes the T.O.V.A. application starts up before the service. The T.O.V.A. will wait and try five times to communicate with the service, but depending on your system’s configuration, speed, age, etc., it’s possible that it might take longer. If you find that the T.O.V.A. service is already running, try restarting the T.O.V.A. to see if it still fails to communicate.
The T.O.V.A. service communicates locally on port 26001 by default. Windows Firewall, even if it blocks that port, will not block our communication because it’s local to your machine; in other words, we don’t use that port to communicate over your network or the internet. So this possibility is not likely, but we can handle this too.
If you must block that port on your system, you can change the port number we use in the T.O.V.A. Preferences (section 27.9) and in C:\Program Files (x86)\tova_9\service\tova-pte-svc.ini. Note: You must change both settings for communication to work.
Some users might not want the T.O.V.A. to reboot their system, and so we offer the option to reboot ‘later’ in the PTE launch settings. The T.O.V.A. prepares your system to boot the PTE and then exits. If, instead of rebooting your system, you run the T.O.V.A. application, you will see this window (Figure 87), giving you the option to have the T.O.V.A. reboot your system or cancel booting the PTE. The latter will clear away the prepared files, restore your normal boot settings, and start the T.O.V.A. application.
This section discusses problems you might encounter with the T.O.V.A. .
Yeah, we’d prefer there weren’t any errors in our software too. But occasionally—sometimes even through no fault of our own—the unexpected occurs.
Sometimes the error may make perfect sense to you. We try to generate meaningful error messages, but it’s not always possible.
If a message confuses or disturbs you, please contact T.O.V.A. technical support. The best way to alert us is using the T.O.V.A. ’s built-in tech support interface: Just click ‘Send to tech support...’ from most error windows or see section 29 for more information. If your need is urgent, you can call us at 1-800-PAY-ATTN (1-800-729-2886), or you can email us at info@tovatest.com. Best of all, our Tech Support is always FREE!
There are a few different reasons why a database may fail to open:
WARNING! Storing data on a server or network share will most likely result in lost data! Many of the problems below can be caused by attempting to share a T.O.V.A. database over a network. This is NOT supported and will cause problems.
The T.O.V.A. has built-in automatic backups (section 27.5), though we recommend you also perform your own system backups to a secure location. If you have full access to the database path and the T.O.V.A. database still fails to open, please contact T.O.V.A. technical support (section 29). We can often help users recover some or all of their data.
If your T.O.V.A. database cannot be opened, the T.O.V.A. may offer to move the non-working database aside. If successful, the T.O.V.A. can then create a new, empty database where the former database was. That way, you can test new subjects, then contact The TOVA Company at a convenient time to recover your previous data, if possible. The original database that could not be opened will be preserved, renamed, in the same database folder.
If you try to run the T.O.V.A. and you get this message, it indicates that the T.O.V.A. is already running. If you were to run your Windows Task Manager, though, you would not find tova.exe and killing tova-pte-svc.exe would not help you.
The T.O.V.A. is a Java application (which is why it runs on both Windows and Mac systems) and runs on your system as tova-jvm.exe. If you arrive at this window, click ‘Restart’ to tell the other T.O.V.A. instance to exit. On the other hand, if you perhaps forgot the T.O.V.A. application was already running, you can just click ‘OK’, and the new instance will exit.
If the T.O.V.A. encounters a serious problem and the previous instance will not terminate, reboot your computer or click ‘OK’ and end any other tova-jvm.exe tasks that are running. Or just contact T.O.V.A. technical support (section 29). We’re happy to help.
If you encounter a message like this saving a session to your database, it can be confusing. It usually indicates that you are trying to save a session to a different database than launched it. This can happen if you are running the T.O.V.A. on multiple computers or from different logins on the same computer. If you can, exit the T.O.V.A. application and try to save the test data on the original computer and login.
If you cannot, click ‘OK’, and you will be prompted to either match the session to the same subject in this database or to create a new subject with the name, birthdate, and gender from the test data on the device. Any additional information you entered in the New Test Session window (Treatments, Tester, Comments, etc.) will need to be re-entered, but the critical information and test data will be saved.
If the T.O.V.A. finds that a new or edited subject looks similar, but not identical, to another subject in the database, it will ask you to resolve the situation. Often this can happen if a subject has been entered as “John" and “Jack" or the name was just misspelled.
You are asked to decide if the two subjects are actually different people or not. If they are the same subject, choose either the new subject information or the existing information from the similar subject.
This is where we try to anticipate and answer questions you might have about the T.O.V.A. .
If the PTE is not compatible with your computer, you should still be able to use the External A/V hardware setup (section 15.2). Please review our system requirements (section 11.9) for more information.
If you’re testing without rebooting, what we call External A/V (EAV) testing, you must connect your monitor to the ‘video out’ port of the T.O.V.A. USB device . If you haven’t done this correctly, you may first notice this when you try to calibrate your display and the calibration image doesn’t appear. Please check your connections and make sure the monitor is plugged into the correct video port. See section 15.2 for more details.
Your T.O.V.A. USB device is not enabled for ordering unless or until we have billing information for your account. If you encounter this error, you should contact T.O.V.A. customer service, and they will be happy to help you resolve the problem.
In this manual, we use numerous acronyms, abbreviations, and technical terms, so we’ve tried to define all of our proprietary terms and acronyms here.
Note: If you don’t find it here, you can easily search the electronic .PDF version of this manual.
In other words, you can use most laptops or notebooks to administer an External A/V test if you also have a separate display you can attach to the T.O.V.A. USB device .
In other words, you can administer an EAV auditory test on a laptop or notebook if you have a separate display and speakers you can attach to the T.O.V.A. USB device .
Note: Some monitors have built-in speakers. You can use these displays to administer an External A/V test provided they have separate video and audio plugs you can attach to the T.O.V.A. USB device .
The T.O.V.A. CD can no longer be used to install the current T.O.V.A. software. Instead, install the software from our website (https://www.tovatest.com/downloads/.
Appendix |
This is the appendix.
The T.O.V.A. USB device and microswitch (“the T.O.V.A. hardware”) must be installed and put into service according to the electromagnetic compliance (EMC) guidelines and declarations provided here.
Table A-1 Electromagnetic emissions Table A-2 Electromagnetic immunity Table A-3 Electromagnetic immunity for non-life-supporting equipment Table A-4 Recommended Separation Distances Between Radio-frequency (RF) Communications Equipment for Non-life-supporting Equipment
Note: Portable and mobile RF communications equipment can affect the operation of the T.O.V.A. hardware.
Warning: The use of accessories and cables other than those sold by The TOVA Company may result in increased emissions or decreased immunity of the T.O.V.A. hardware.
Table A-1. Guidance and manufacturer’s declaration—electromagnetic emissions
The T.O.V.A. hardware is intended for use in the electromagnetic environment specified below. The customer or user of the T.O.V.A. hardware should ensure that they are used in such an environment. Emissions Test Compliance Electromagnetic Environment—Guidance RF emissions
CISPR 11Group 1 The T.O.V.A. hardware uses RF energy only for its internal functions. Therefore, its RF emissions are very low and are not likely to cause any interference in nearby electronic equipment. RF emissions
CISPR 11Class B 33.5inThe T.O.V.A. hardware is suitable for use in all establishments, including domestic establishments and those directly connected to the public low voltage power supply network that supplies buildings used for domestic purposes. Harmonic emissions
IEC 61000-3-2Not Applicable Voltage fluctuations / flicker emissions
IEC 61000-3-3Not Applicable
Table A-2. Guidance and manufacturer’s declaration—electromagnetic immunity
The T.O.V.A. hardware is intended for use in the electromagnetic environment specified below. The customer or user of the T.O.V.A. hardware should ensure that they are used in such an environment. Immunity Test IEC 60601 Test Level Compliance Level Electromagnetic Environment—Guidance Electrostatic discharge (ESD)
IEC 61000-4-2±6 kV contact
±8 kV air± 6 kV contact
± 8 kV airFloors should be wood, concrete, or ceramic tile. If floors are covered with synthetic material, the relative humidity should be at least 30%. Electrical fast transient/burst
IEC 61000-4-4± 2 kV for power-supply lines
± 1 kV for input/output lines± 2 kV for power-supply lines
± 1 kV for input/output linesMains power quality should be that of a typical commercial or hospital environment. Surge
IEC 61000-4-5± 1 kV differential mode
± 2 kV common modeNot applicable Mains power quality should be that of a typical commercial or hospital environment. Voltage dips, short interruptions, and voltage variations on power-supply input lines
IEC 61000-4-11< 5% UT (> 95% dip in UT) for 0.5 cycle
40% UT (60% dip in UT) for 5 cycles
70% UT (30% dip in UT) for 25 cycles
< 5% UT (> 95% dip in UT) for 5 sec.Not applicable Mains power quality should be that of a typical commercial or hospital environment. If the user of the T.O.V.A. hardware requires continued operation during power mains interruptions, it is recommended that the T.O.V.A. hardware be powered from an uninterruptible power supply or a battery. Power frequency (50/60 Hz) magnetic field
IEC 61000-4-83 A/m 3 A/m Power frequency magnetic fields should be at levels characteristic of a typical location in a typical commercial or hospital environment.
Note: UT is the AC mains voltage before application of the test level.
Table A-3. Guidance and manufacturer’s declaration—electromagnetic immunity for non-life-supporting equipment
The T.O.V.A. hardware is intended for use in the electromagnetic environment specified below. The customer or user of the T.O.V.A. hardware should ensure that they are used in such an environment. Immunity Test IEC 60601 Test Level Compliance Level Electromagnetic Environment—Guidance Conducted RF
IEC 61000-4-63 Vrms,
150 kHz to 80 MHz3 Vrms 23inPortable and mobile RF communications equipment should be used no closer to any part of the T.O.V.A. hardware, including cables, than the recommended separation distance calculated from the equation applicable to the frequency of the transmitter.
Recommended separation:
d = 1.2 √P
d = 1.2 √P 80 MHz to 800 MHz
d = 2.3 √P 800 MHz to 2.5 GHz
where P is the maximum output power rating of the transmitter in watts (W) according to the transmitter manufacturer, and d is the recommended separation distance in meters (m). Field strengths from fixed RF transmitters, as determined by the electromagnetic site survey,a should be less than the compliance level in each frequency range.b Interference may occur in the vicinity of equipment marked with the following symbol:
Radiated RF
IEC 61000-4-33 V/m,
80 MHz to 2.5 GHz3 V/m
Note 1: At 80 MHz and 800 MHz, the higher frequency range applies.
Note 2: These guidelines may not apply in all situations. Electromagnetic propagation is affected by absorption and reflection from structures, objects, and people.
a Field strengths from fixed transmitters, such as base stations for radio (cellular/cordless) telephones and land mobile radios, amateur radio, AM and FM radio broadcast, and TV broadcast cannot be predicted theoretically with accuracy. To assess the electromagnetic environment due to fixed RF transmitters, and electromagnetic site survey should be considered. If the measured field strength in the location in which the T.O.V.A. hardware is used exceeds the applicable RF compliance level above, the T.O.V.A. hardware should be observed to verify normal operation. If abnormal performance is observed, additional measures may be necessary, such as reorienting or relocation of the T.O.V.A. hardware.
b Over the frequency range 150 KHz to 80 MHz, field strengths should be less than 3 V/m.
Table A-4. Recommended separation distances between portable and mobile RF communications equipment and the T.O.V.A. hardware.
The T.O.V.A. hardware is intended for use in an electromagnetic environment in which radiated RF disturbances are controlled. The customer or user of the T.O.V.A. hardware can help prevent electromagnetic interference by maintaining a minimum distance between portable and mobile RF communications equipment (transmitters) and the T.O.V.A. hardware as recommended below, according to the maximum output power of the communications equipment. 21.5inRated Maximum Output Power of Transmitter (in watts) Separation Distance According to
Frequency of Transmitter (in meters)150 kHz to 80 MHz
d = 1.2 √P80 MHz to 800 MHz
d = 1.2 √P800 MHz to 2.5 GHz
d = 2.3 √P0.01 0.12 0.12 0.23 0.1 0.38 0.38 0.73 1 1.2 1.2 2.3 10 3.8 3.8 7.3 100 12 12 23
For transmitters rated at a maximum output power not listed above, the recommended separation distance d in meters (m) can be estimated using the equation applicable to the frequency of the transmitter, where P is the maximum output power rating of the transmitter in watts (W) according to the transmitter manufacturer.
Note 1: At 80 MHz and 800 MHz, the separation distance for the higher frequency range applies.
Note 2: These guidelines may not apply in all situations. Electromagnetic propagation is affected by absorption and reflection from structures, objects, and people.
International Symbols applicable to the T.O.V.A.
The T.O.V.A. kit
If you get a warning during install, please choose 
A T.O.V.A. installer welcome page
T.O.V.A. installer is finished!
The T.O.V.A. system check dialog
The T.O.V.A. installer Introduction page
The T.O.V.A. installer Install Type page
Configuration wizard
More settings
The T.O.V.A. Hardware
The PTE hardware setup
USB
The EAV desktop setup
Audio and video cables
The EAV setup on a laptop
Your T.O.V.A. USB device is correctly attached
Now that your hardware is tested, test the PTE
Now that your hardware is tested, test the PTE
Choose your uninstall options
Main T.O.V.A. window
New Subject window
Choose session options
External A/V session
The Precision Test Environment
Microswitch light sensor
Calibrating the T.O.V.A. to your display.
Results of a misunderstood practice test
This test was completed with very few button presses.
View the report on this T.O.V.A. data?
The T.O.V.A. Report
Select pages and fields to include
The Comparison Report
Ordering test credits
Offline ordering
Database options
Files to Import tab
Resolve Duplicate Subjects tab
Export options
Opening a T.O.V.A. file.
The T.O.V.A. needs full access to the shared TOVA folder
Custom Subject Fields
Database options
Back up your database automatically
Logging options
Session Table fields
Stimuli settings
T.O.V.A. Stimuli, Target and Nontarget
Test instruction options
A green Status button indicates no known issues.
Colors indicate the condition of status categories
Contact Technical Support
Send sessions with your support request
Use screenshot capture to show us your screen
Downloading update
A new firmware update is available
Front and back of the T.O.V.A. USB device
Reset light/button
Connector
Microswitch Jack
Check T.O.V.A. hardware window
Check the audio volume for EAV testing
Hold the photodiode up to the rectangle on the screen
How to hold your microswitch for calibration
Only the Master and Beep channels are turned on here
EAV and modern PTE
External A/V session
Test the PTE...
The Precision Test Environment
Legacy PTE after a failed calibration
Support tab
Keep your T.O.V.A. CD up to date
Erase warning—choose 
Test Instructions
How to hold the microswitch
Visual Test Target/Nontarget stimuli
How to hold the microswitch
UAC message on Windows 7
Edit the session to reassign it
The main T.O.V.A. window
The Edit Session window
Enter the medication information
The Help Window
Without the service enabled, you must grant the T.O.V.A. permission to make changes
Failure to connect to the service
Ready to boot the PTE
An Error window
Find subject
Are these actually the same subject?