For each green light you see, push the button once.

[wizer]

You would think with an instruction like that, most people would get it right...most don't.

I need help with the wording..since I say this probably a dozen times a day or more, every additional word is that much longer that I am away from my desk and of course the forums, so we can't have that.

The situation: I give patients an "automated perimetry test" which check their peripheral vision to rule out retinal problems, glaucoma, and even brain tumors.

The patient is seated at the instrument, looking into a bowl shaped instrument (similar to the large hair dryers that go over the head). When the test starts, they are looking at at a red light, and 4 green lights appear. They are supposed to press the button 4 times because there are 4 green lights..if they pass, then the test continues and there is one green light at a time as the test proceeds, and they press it once every time they see it.

So with the above instructions..press the button once for every green light you see...I usually get one of the following results:

1) The patient gets it right, and presses the button 4x. This RARELY happens
2) They dont press it at all. When asked, why didnt you press it, didnt you see the green lights, they usually say something like "oh, yes I saw the green lights, sorry!"
3) They press the button once. When asked "why didn't you press it 4x since you saw 4 lights" they usually say, oh, I DID see 4 green lights, sorry!".

There must be a better way to do this...

Suggestions?

Remember short and sweet...this is the phrase I will use at least a dozen times a day...every day...

[GoodWitch]

Try phrasing it differently - "Each and every time you see a green light, even if they are one right after the other, press the button. If 2 green lights come on at the same time, press it twice."

I hate that test. I can tell exactly how the printout will look by the periods of time when I don't see green lights LOL

[wizer]

Try phrasing it differently - "Each and every time you see a green light, even if they are one right after the other, press the button. If 2 green lights come on at the same time, press it twice."

I hate that test. I can tell exactly how the printout will look by the periods of time when I don't see green lights LOL

I'm having deja vu again...

[GoodWitch]

I'm having deja vu again...

Me, too! I'm stuck in an endless loop!