The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) is a measure of cognitive function that specifically assesses auditory information processing speed and
flexibility, as well as calculation ability. It was initially developed by Gronwall in 1977 (1) to monitor the recovery of patients who had sustained mild
head injuries. Stimulus presentation rates were adapted for use with multiple sclerosis (MS) patients by Rao and colleagues in 1989 (2), and the measure has
been widely used in MS studies during the last decade. More recently, the PASAT has been included as one of three measures in the Multiple Sclerosis
Functional Composite (MSFC) (3-5). The MSFC is recommended as an outcome measure in MS-related clinical trials.
The PASAT is presented on compact disk (CD) to control the rate of stimulus presentation. Single digits are presented either every 3
seconds (trial 1) or every 2 seconds (trial 2), and the patient must add each new digit to the one immediately prior to it. The test score is the total number
of correct sums given (out of 60 possible) in each trial. To minimize familiarity with stimulus items in clinical trials and other serial studies, two
alternate forms have been developed; the order of these should be counterbalanced across testing sessions. The PASAT test stimuli have been translated into 27
languages. Please note that the instructions and scoring manual are only in English.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Gronwall, D.M.A. (1977). Paced auditory serial-addition task: A measure of recovery from concussion.
Perceptual and Motor Skills, 44, 367-373.
2. Rao, S. M., Leo, G. J., Haughton, V. M., ST. Aubin-Faubert, P., & Bernadin, L. (1989). Correlation of
magnetic resonance imaging with neuropsychological testing in multiple sclerosis, Neurology, 39, 161-166.
3. Rudick, R., Antel, J., Confavreux, C., Cutter, G., Ellison, G., Fischer, J., Lublin, F., Miller, A., Petkau, J., Rao, S., Reingold, S.,
Syndulko, K., Thompson, A., Wallenberg, J., Weinshenker, B., & Wiloughby, E. (1997). Recommendations from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Clinical Outcomes Assessment Task Force. Annals of Neurology, 42, 379-382.
4. Cutter, G. R., Baier, M. L., Rudick, R. A., Cookfair, D.L., Fischer, J. S., Petkau, J., Syndulko, K., Weinshenker, B. G., Antel, J. P.,
Confavreux, C., Ellison, G. W., Lublin, F., Miller, A. E., Rao, S. M., Reinglod, S., Thompson, A., & Willoughby, E. (1999). Development of a multiple
sclerosis functional composite as a clinical trial outcome measure. Brain, 122 (Pt 5), 871-882.
5. Fischer, J. S., Rudick, R. A., Cutter, G. R., & Reingold, S. C. (1999). The Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite measure (MSFC): an
integrated approach to MS clinical outcome assessment. Multiple Sclerosis, 5, 244-250.
MATERIALS NEEDED
A CD player and CD with PASAT stimuli, clipboard, and PASAT Record Forms to administer the
test.
TEST INSTRUCTIONS
Test administration and scoring instructions for the PASAT and the MSFC may be downloaded by clicking on the items below. Files are in Adobe Acrobat portable
document file (pdf) format (to read these files, you will need to download and install Acrobat Reader, http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html)
To order the PASAT, please complete the form below. Compact disks are $25 USD
each. You will be contacted with a quotation and payment instructions by email.