Comparison of the TPT 10 and 6 hole form board.

The 10 hole (Adult Version) Tactile Performance Test (TPT) or Form Board is too difficult for patients with moderate to severe brain damage. A series of studies were done to enable an examiner to substitute the simpler 6 hole board (TPT 6 - Child's Version) for such patients. Eighty subjects (61 brain damaged and 19 controls) were given both boards in a counter-balanced order. It was found that: (1) the TPT 10 was inadequate for severe damage; (2) the TPT 6 can be used with severe impairment; (3) a method of prorating blocks into time was developed; (4) the TPT 10 and TPT 6 are strongly correlated; (5) there were no order effects when both boards were given; (6) both boards significantly separated controls from brain-damaged subjects; (7) criteria for substitution of the TPT 6 were established; and (8) comparable scales were established for both boards so that an examiner can substitute either TPT for the other.