Method and apparatus for reducing errors in screening-test administration

A method, for detecting a screening-test error, the method comprising:

• measuring at least one performance parameter related to at least one screening-test task performed by a subject;
• and
• calculating at least one performance statistical quantity characterizing the measured performance parameter;
• and
• comparing the at least one performance statistical quantity to at least one reference statistical quantity associated with an error-free screening test to derive error information;
• and displaying the error information on a display device or in a report, wherein:
• (i) the screening-test task is a balance task;
• (ii) the at least one performance parameter is a quantity related to vertical force applied to a force plate;
• (iii) the at least one performance statistical quantity corresponds to an average of a mathematical derivative of the total vertical force applied to the force plate;
• and
• (iv) comparing the at least one performance statistical quantity to the at least one reference statistical quantity includes determining whether the average deviates from zero by a predetermined threshold value,
• wherein the statistical quantity represents a value associated with a root mean square.

A method for detecting a screening-test error, the method comprising:

• measuring at least one performance parameter related to at least one balance task performed by a subject;
• and
• calculating at least one performance statistical quantity characterizing the measured performance parameter;
• and
• comparing the at least one performance statistical quantity to at least one reference statistical quantity associated with an error-free screening test to derive error information;
• and displaying the error information on a display device or in a report, wherein:
• (i) the at least one performance parameter is a quantity related to vertical force applied to a force plate by the subject;
• (ii) the at least one performance statistical quantity corresponds to a moving window average value for total vertical force applied to the force plate;
• and
• (iii) comparing the at least one performance statistical quantity to the at least one reference statistical quantity includes determining whether the moving window average value deviates from a constant value by a predetermined threshold value.

A method for detecting a screening-test error, the method comprising:

• measuring at least one performance parameter related to at least one balance task performed by a subject;
• and
• calculating at least one performance statistical quantity characterizing the measured performance parameter;
• and
• comparing the at least one performance statistical quantity to at least one reference statistical quantity associated with an error-free screening test to derive error information;
• and displaying the error information on a display device or in a report, wherein:
• (i) the at least one performance parameter is a quantity related to vertical force applied to a force plate by the subject;
• (ii) the at least one performance statistical quantity corresponds to an average of a mathematical derivative of the total vertical force applied to the force plate;
• and
• (iii) comparing the at least one performance statistical quantity to the at least one reference statistical quantity includes determining whether the average deviates from zero by a predetermined threshold value.

A method for detecting a screening-test error, the method comprising:

• measuring at least one performance parameter related to at least one balance task performed by a subject;
• and
• calculating at least one performance statistical quantity characterizing the measured performance parameter;
• and
• comparing the at least one performance statistical quantity to at least one reference statistical quantity associated with an error-free screening test to derive error information;
• and displaying the error information on a display device or in a report, wherein:
• (i) the at least one performance parameter is a quantity related to horizontal force applied to a force plate by the subject;
• (ii) the at least one performance statistical quantity corresponds to an average of a mathematical derivative of the total horizontal force applied to the force plate;
• and
• (iii) comparing the at least one performance statistical quantity to the at least one reference statistical quantity includes determining whether the average deviates from zero by a predetermined threshold value.

A system for detecting errors in balance related screening tests, the system comprising:

• a force-plate for measuring forces to determine a quantity related to a stability factor of a balance task performed in trials by a subject under a plurality of distinct sensory conditions;
• and
• a computation device in communication with the force-plate, the computational device
• (i) receiving the quantity related to the stability factor for each trial,
• (ii) determining a rank order for the quantities, each quantity for each trial being associated with a rank, and
• (iii) determining if any of the ranks associated with a given one of the trials has fallen outside a reference range associated with the given trial performed under error-free conditions,
• wherein measuring the quantity related to a stability factor includes following a modified CTSIB protocol.

A system for detecting errors in balance related screening tests, the system comprising:

• a force-plate for measuring forces to determine a quantity related to a stability factor of a balance task performed in trials by a subject under a plurality of distinct sensory conditions;
• and
• a computation device in communication with the force-plate, the computational device
• (i) receiving the quantity related to the stability factor for each trial,
• (ii) determining a rank order for the quantities, each quantity for each trial being associated with a rank, and
• (iii) determining if any of the ranks associated with a given one of the trials has fallen outside a reference range associated with the given trial performed under error-free conditions,
• wherein determining a rank order for the performance of the plurality of distinct tasks includes determining a rank order according to the level of difficulty of the balance tasks.